Nats work on defense, left-on-left hitting and make first cuts

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nationals were back to work on the back fields at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches after Monday’s true off-day. No one reported to the complex yesterday. Everyone returned today.

That included Luis García Jr., who was a late scratch from Saturday’s nightcap of a split-squad doubleheader with an illness that included a throat issue and fever. The second baseman said he was feeling better in the clubhouse this morning. Manager Davey Martinez said García will be back to baseball activity today.

That activity will take place on the back fields while the Nats host a split-squad Cardinals team inside the stadium for today’s Grapefruit League action (which will also be live on MASN at 1 p.m.). The Nats will play a simulated intrasquad game on the back fields for those who aren’t playing against the Cards.

“He's going to do all baseball activity,” the skipper said of García during his pregame media session. “He's going to go back there and play in that game. And then if he feels good, he'll be back in there tomorrow.”

James Wood will also play on the back fields, which is a significant development because he will be playing a few “innings” in the outfield for the first time since reporting to camp with right quad tendinitis. The big outfielder has appeared in two games as the designated hitter, going 2-for-6 with one run, one walk and one strikeout.

If all goes well, Wood will DH one more time and then play the outfield in an actual game later this week.

“Everything's the same,” Martinez said of Wood’s progress and schedule. “He's gonna go back there and play a little bit of the outfield. Gets him at-bats. We got something going on today back there where we're gonna have our left-handed hitters hit against left-handed pitching. And then he's gonna play the field. So he'll go and play every other inning out in left field. And if that goes well, the plan is probably to DH him here tomorrow and then get him back out in the outfield the next time he plays.”

Wood participated in the Nationals’ defensive drills this morning. They were split into two teams on two different fields with coaches using pitching machines to launch balls in the air all over the field.

Next to Wood in center field was Dylan Crews, who made a sliding catch to end their team’s perfect round. Bench coach Miguel Cairo was very excited and went to go check on the other team. They were perfect as well.

All around a good defensive day of practice for the Nats.

García and Wood will be part of that group of left-handed hitters who will get extra work in facing left-handed pitching. All lefty hitters – except those scheduled to play in the game such as starters CJ Abrams, Nathaniel Lowe and José Tena – will take more swings against southpaws since they don’t get many opportunities during spring games and will surely face them during the season.

“Just to get them some left-handed at-bats,” Martinez said. “They don't see a whole lot of them during games. So now it's just repetition. They're going to see a bunch of lefties against them.”

* The Nats have made their first cuts of spring, reassigning all of these guys to minor league camp: right-handers Daison Acosta, Marquis Grissom Jr., Jack Sinclair, Tyler Stuart and Jarlin Susana; and catchers Caleb Lomavita and Max Romero.

* Former Nationals manager Dusty Baker reported to West Palm Beach over the weekend. He was seen giving general manager Mike Rizzo a hug on the concourse after Saturday night’s game.

Baker watched batting practice this morning, spending time talking with his son, Darren, and Martinez, who took over as the Nats skipper after the future Hall of Famer.