Tena's woes at third continue; Chaparro becomes 23rd Nat to steal base

It was not necessarily an easy play. The ball came screaming off Luke Williams’ bat at 104.4 mph. But José Tena’s reaction said it all.

The Nationals’ rookie third baseman couldn’t react quickly enough and was left in a defensive position as the ball skipped toward him. It rattled off his glove, and though he picked it up right away, he had to rush his throw across the diamond and ultimately pulled first baseman Joey Gallo off the bag.

“I should’ve made the play,” Tena said, via interpreter Octavio Martinez. “I should’ve caught it and made the play.”

Tena’s error wound up prolonging the top of the third Tuesday night, with MacKenzie Gore unable to pitch his way out of the inning before allowing four runs to score. The Braves went on to rout the Nats, 12-0, and Tena found himself once again confronting questions about his shaky play in the field.

This was the eighth error charged to Tena in only 24 games since the Nationals called him up last month. The 23-year-old admittedly is still learning third base on the fly after spending the majority of his time in the Guardians system at shortstop, but his struggles nonetheless have been costly and have at times overshadowed his strong offensive performance.

“He’s working hard every day to get better,” manager Davey Martinez said. “Those balls are coming over there pretty hot. It’s all about his footwork. He’s got to stay down, be ready, get his glove out front. But mainly, he’s got to get ready early and play the hops a little bit better.”

Tena, one of three prospects acquired from Cleveland in the Lane Thomas trade, has managed to earn everyday playing time because of his bat. He’s now batting .315 with four doubles (two of them Tuesday night), two homers and 10 RBIs, delivering a .775 OPS in the process.

But his chances of sticking in the majors very much rest on his ability to play at least adequate defense at one of the infield positions. And with shortstop and second base already locked up, the Nationals have nowhere else to play him right now than third base.

“He’s got really good hands,” Martinez said. “The game over there is just a little quick for him right now.”

Tena will continue to get chances over the season’s final three weeks, but he also knows one of the organization’s top prospects is waiting in the wings. Brady House (2021 first round pick) may not make his major league debut this month, but he’s on track to do so early in 2025, if not on Opening Day.

“At the end of the day, I’ve got to keep working,” Tena said. “It’s a new position for me, so I’m still learning. But keep working hard, and just go out and play and make the plays.”

* It had no bearing on the outcome of Tuesday’s game, but when Andres Chaparro stole second base in the bottom of the first, he ensured the Nationals had done something no major league team has done in the last century.

Chaparro became the 23rd different member of the team to steal a base this season, a total not reached by any club since the 1917 Pirates.

The 25-year-old first baseman/designated hitter isn’t exactly a speedster; he’s never totaled more than four stolen bases in any season in the minors. But the situation Tuesday called for it, with Chaparro on first and James Wood on third with two outs in the inning. Chaparro took off and actually paused for a moment a few steps short of second base, hoping to draw a throw that would then allow Wood to break for the plate. Braves catcher Sean Murphy didn’t acquiesce, so Chaparro just took second and earned his first major league steal in the process.

There’s still an opportunity for the Nationals to add a 24th name to the list, if rookie Darren Baker can steal a base before season’s end. (Baker did appear late in the game, but went 0-for-2 and didn’t reach base.) The only other position player to wear a Nats uniform this season without stealing a base was Travis Blankenhorn, who was designated for assignment last week and opted to become a free agent.