Position players report, top prospects get to take some hacks

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Position players officially reported for spring training today, and everyone was present and accounted for. Most guys had already been trickling in over the last few days, but now the entire roster is in place for good.

The first official full-squad workout is set for Tuesday morning, but all of the position players made a point to take the fields for an informal round of batting practice and defensive work. Their manager couldn’t help but notice how they looked.

“Did you watch our infield today,” Davey Martinez asked as he sat down for his daily media session. “Woooo. Man, they were moving the ball quick. We talked this winter about how it’s a quick game. Move your feet, get rid of the ball under control. Man, I was excited to see what I saw today. Double plays were crisp. They’re moving their feet. Backhands. Everything. There was good chatter, a lot of energy. It was fun to watch. I got a little excited. Hairs stood up a little bit.”

The defensive drill had the projected infield all together for the first time, with newcomers Dominic Smith (first base) and Jeimer Candelario (third base) joining the returning middle infield duo of CJ Abrams (shortstop) and Luis García (second base). For now, utility infielders Ildemaro Vargas and Jake Alu are at second base, though Martinez said both will bounce around to other positions throughout the spring.

Also bouncing around positions is Joey Meneses, whose primary job this season will be to continue hitting like he did in August and September (.930 OPS, tied with Manny Machado for tops among all qualifying National League batters). Meneses will serve as designated hitter many nights, but he’ll also get time at first base and in left field, according to Martinez.

“A lot of a little bit of everywhere,” the manager said with a laugh, “if that makes sense.”

* With big league position players taking physicals this morning before heading out to the fields in the afternoon, the Nationals needed some hitters to stand in and face pitchers for today’s round of live BP. They decided to turn to their top prospects currently in early minor league camp, which made for a livelier-than-usual session, with an excess of observers.

Big-name prospects James Wood, Robert Hassell III, Brady House, Elijah Green and T.J. White all took their hacks against pitchers in big league camp (Cory Abbott, Hobie Harris, Jackson Rutledge). The results were probably what you’d expect: Some highlights, some lowlights.

Green, in particular, had an eventful sequence facing Abbott, who pitched in 16 games for the Nats last season and started nine. The 19-year-old belted a fastball on a straight line over the left field fence, only to whiff at a follow-up slider from Abbott moments later.

“I would take a glance every now and again, because I knew some of our young guys were over there hitting,” said Martinez, who had to remain on a field watching other pitchers work.  “It’s fun. We bring them up here, let them see some big league pitching.”