Thoughts and quotes on first full workout, plus guest instructor schedule

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Before his team took the field for the first official full-squad workout of the spring, Davey Martinez gathered everyone together this morning for his first “Circle of Trust” meeting of the spring.

No, there weren’t any camels. Nor any other live animals. Yet. (There’s still five weeks of camp to go, of course.)

There was, however, a message from the manager that didn’t resemble any of the previous seven camp-opening messages he has delivered during his time here. Martinez’s first four teams were veteran-laden squads that expected to win big. His last three teams were firmly in the rebuilding category, with long-term development taking precedence over short-term success.

The tone this year, Martinez believes, should be different.

“I hear a lot about how our core guys are going to be really good, and they’re coming. I don’t really want to hear that anymore,” he said. “I told them today: ‘We’re here. This is the core. These are the guys we anticipated would be here. You guys are here. You got your feet wet. It’s time to go out there and perform every day, go 1-0 every day.’

“That’s the gist of it. I want to win, and I let them know today that’s what we’re here for.”

And thus began the first full-squad workout of 2025. There were fundamental drills that followed, from baserunning instruction to infield fielding practice to popup communications drills, then live batting practice and finally good old-fashioned BP. The whole session lasted more than three hours.

“I loved it,” Martinez said. “A lot of energy. I saw a lot of positive things today, which was awesome.”

The defensive alignment for the main big leaguers on Field 3? Nathaniel Lowe was backed up by Josh Bell at first base. Luis García Jr. was backed up by Cayden Wallace at second base. CJ Abrams was backed up by Amed Rosario at shortstop. Paul DeJong was backed up by Jose Tena at third base. With James Wood sidelined from defensive work due to left quad tendinitis, Alex Call and Juan Yepez got the reps in left field. Jacob Young was in center field, with Dylan Crews in right field.

The best play of the day? It came from the guy least likely to be in the field on a regular basis this season. Bell, who is still getting reps at first base to fill in when Lowe gets a day off, came charging in on a popup and made a sliding catch about halfway down the line toward home plate, drawing oohs and aahs from teammates and fans in attendance alike.

“That’s what I know about him,” Martinez said. “I love him. He’s going to get after it every day.”

Bell also was among the batters who produced the loudest contact during live BP, taking DJ Herz deep to left. García also connected for a home run off Cole Henry. Colin Poche had more success during his throwing session, the newly signed lefty inducing back-to-back whiffs from Wood.

* There’s been a change of plans in the Nationals’ spring pitching schedule. MacKenzie Gore won’t be starting Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener after all, one day after Martinez announced the left-hander would get that assignment.

Turns out Gore wants to be able to go two innings in his spring debut, and he won’t be ready to do that by Saturday. So he’ll get another chance to throw live BP and build his arm up later this week, then slot into the rotation early next week.

Martinez said they were still settling on a rotation plan, so he didn’t know yet who would start Saturday against the Astros.

* Employee No. 11 reported for work this morning, and he’ll be in town all week as a guest instructor and fan favorite. But Ryan Zimmerman is far from the only former Nationals player participating this spring.

Nine more ex-players will be coming to West Palm Beach over the course of camp to help out, by far the largest such group of alumni in team history. (Consider this the unofficial kickoff of the Nats’ 20th anniversary celebration.)

Here’s the schedule for those other players who will serve as guest instructors this spring:

Feb. 21-23: Ian Desmond
Feb. 26-28: Tyler Clippard
March 1-4: Anibal Sánchez
March 4-6: Denard Span, Danny Espinosa, Adam LaRoche
March 7-9: Drew Storen
March 11-13: Jordan Zimmermann
March 15-17: Jayson Werth