WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Juan Yepez didn’t enter the 2024 season as the Nationals’ starting first baseman. He didn’t even enter the season on the Nationals’ major league roster.
But as Joey Gallo dealt with injuries and Joey Meneses dealt with struggles, Yepez found his way to D.C. and ultimately a semi-regular spot in the lineup. He finished the year with a respectable .764 OPS, providing quality production at the plate, especially against left-handers.
But when the season ended, the Nats knew they needed to upgrade at first base. So they traded for Nathaniel Lowe, then also signed Josh Bell to return (though primarily as designated hitter).
Which leaves Yepez … where, exactly? Competing for a utility role.
“We’ve got to see if he can play multiple positions,” manager Davey Martinez said. “We’re looking for that guy who can do a bunch of different things. … And he deserves a chance to make this team. He played really well for us last year in a limited role. If he can do all these little things – we’ll try him out in left field, we’ll put him at third base, play first base as well – we’ll see how he does.”
Yepez has been getting defensive work at both third base and in the outfield so far this spring. And today he’ll get his first game action at something other than first base when he starts in left field against the Astros.
It’s not completely new territory for Yepez; he has 52 games of big league experience in the outfield with the Cardinals. But he only played first base (or DH) last season for the Nationals, so this is new territory for the 27-year-old with this team.
Yepez reported to camp prepared for this. The Nats told him heading into the offseason this would likely be asked of him. He lost some weight, worked on his athleticism and arrived in West Palm Beach ready for anything.
“I take it as: I’m here to follow orders. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do,” he said. “If you want me to put water in the cooler, I’ll do it. I’m just going to be ready to do whatever I can to help this team win.”
The Nats have a month before they have to make final roster decisions, but it’s quite possible one of their final decisions will involve the final spot on the bench. And that decision could come down to this: Do they keep an extra infielder like José Tena, or an extra outfielder like Stone Garrett or an extra hitter who can play both infield and outfield (but perhaps not as well as the others) like Yepez?
“He’s not going to (play third base or the outfield) every day, but I want him to be capable to do it when we put him out there,” Martinez said. “The one thing I know is, he hit the ball really well for us last year. He’s still got to hit. He’s going to come off the bench. And he can do all the little things we’ve asked him to do.”