Some lesser-known names to watch this spring

The primary focus during spring training, as it usually is, will be on the big names in Nationals camp. How do James Wood and Dylan Crews look as they prepare for the second go-around in the big leagues? How do newcomers Nathaniel Lowe, Josh Bell, Michael Soroka and Shinnosuke Ogasawara fit in and (ideally) make the team better? How will CJ Abrams address last September’s disciplinary demotion and how he intends to move forward?

But spring training is about everyone in camp, not just the big names. And sometimes, a lesser-known name makes himself known over the course of six weeks in West Palm Beach. There’s always someone who wasn’t expected to make the Opening Day roster stepping up to force the front office’s hand. And even if he doesn’t make the team right away, often an impressive spring lays the groundwork for a promotion sometime during the season.

So, while we wait to see if (hopefully when) the Nats make any more moves before camp opens next week, let’s take a look at some lesser-known names who could become more well-known this spring …

ANDREW KNIZNER
The catching position has loomed all winter as one of the more intriguing ones on the roster. Can Keibert Ruiz get himself back on track after a miserable 2024? And which of the two holdover backup candidates (Riley Adams, Drew Millas) will make the team? Then the Nationals quietly signed Knizner to a minor league deal, with an invitation to big league camp. The Glen Allen, Va., native has big league experience, 290 games with the Cardinals and Rangers. His numbers weren’t great, but he backed up the likes of Yadier Molina and Willson Contreras, so he has learned from some of the best. It would take some tough maneuvering by the Nats to put Knizner on the roster over both Adams and Millas. But they didn’t sign the 30-year-old for nothing. They must want to at least get a look at him, while simultaneously putting some pressure on Ruiz, Adams and Millas to show real improvement.

TYLER STUART
Acquired last summer from the Mets in the Jesse Winker trade, Stuart is an intriguing pitching prospect. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound right-hander is a physical presence on the mound. And he’s delivered good numbers in three minor league seasons (3.31 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings). He struggled in four late-season starts at Triple-A Rochester, so he probably needs more time to develop. But Stuart is already 25 and could warrant a look in the major league rotation if he gets off to a good start in April. His situation is not all that unlike the ones DJ Herz and Mitchell Parker found themselves in last year, and Jake Irvin the year before that. That definitely makes him someone to watch.

BRAD LORD
Like Stuart, Lord is trying to position himself as one of the first starting pitchers called up from Triple-A if a spot opens. Unlike Stuart, Lord is home-grown, an 18th round pick in 2022 from the University of South Florida who burst onto the scene last season with dominant numbers in 12 Double-A starts (8-1, 1.40 ERA, 1.033 WHIP). The right-hander, who turns 25 next week, saw his performance drop off a bit when he was promoted to Triple-A. But like Stuart, he could put himself into the mix for the ultimate promotion if he pitches well out of the gates.

DAYLEN LILE
Who’s the Nationals’ fourth outfielder going to be? Barring any more additions this spring, the candidates are Alex Call, Stone Garrett or Robert Hassell III. They know what Call is at this point. Garrett still has to prove he’s physically the same player he was before breaking his leg. And Hassell, while a touted prospect, has much still to prove himself. So maybe they’d consider someone farther down the depth chart. Lile, a 22-year-old drafted in the second round in 2021, took a big step forward last season by staying healthy enough to play 130 games between Single-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg. He doesn’t hit homers, but he hits a ton of doubles and triples, steals bases and plays good defense. He’s still very raw, but in some ways he comes to camp in a situation not all that different from Trey Lipscomb a year ago. We can debate whether the Nats rushed Lipscomb, and whether that hurt his development, but they may find themselves facing a similar dilemma with Lile this year.

DAISON ACOSTA and JACK SINCLAIR
We’ll lump these two right-handed relievers into the same category, because there are some similarities there. Both pitched primarily for Harrisburg last season. Both put up low ERAs (2.89 for Acosta, 2.20 for Sinclair). Both put up big-time strikeout numbers (12.4 per nine innings for Acosta, 10.2 for Sinclair). Neither has pitched at Triple-A before. But the Nationals bullpen at this moment remains extremely short on proven arms. There are going to be jobs up for grabs this spring, and both Acosta and Sinclair were given big league invitations, which means both will be given a chance to show the club what they can do.