The notion of scribbling out potential lineups for the 2025 Nationals has seemed pointless most of the offseason, because there were too many vacancies still to fill, vacancies in prime spots in the batting order.
It may still be too early to attempt this exercise, because more moves are possible between now and the first day of spring training, especially as it pertains to third base. But the recent additions of Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell did fill the two most significant holes in the lineup, so it’s not impossible to start thinking about Davey Martinez’s plan for his regular one through nine.
There’s no perfect order to arrange the current group, whether due to a lack of track record for some, a lack of recent power for others and an excess of left-handed hitters who are going to have to be stacked together by default. But here’s one possible look Martinez could consider for Opening Day against the Phillies …
1. SS CJ Abrams (L)
2. RF Dylan Crews (R)
3. LF James Wood (L)
4. 1B Nathaniel Lowe (L)
5. DH Josh Bell (S)
6. 2B Luis Garcia Jr. (L)
7. C Keibert Ruiz (S)
8. 3B Jose Tena (L)
9. CF Jacob Young (R)
The biggest question Martinez faces is at the top of his lineup. The Abrams-Crews-Wood trio is likely to occupy the top three slots, but the order isn’t necessarily a sure thing.
Martinez probably prefers it this way, taking full advantage of Abrams’ speed in front of the other two, with Crews’ gap-to-gap power seemingly a good fit in the 2-spot and Wood’s power-patience combo ideal for a 3-hitter.
But this is contingent upon Abrams recapturing the form he displayed during the first half of the 2024 season, when he posted a .343 on-base percentage and .489 slugging percentage to earn an All-Star selection. If he performs the way he did in the second half (.260 on-base percentage, .326 slugging percentage), he won’t find himself anywhere near the top of the lineup for long.
Martinez actually did move Abrams down in the order (to sixth or seventh) for a brief stretch in September. That moved Crews into the leadoff spot for the first time in his big league career, but not in his baseball career.
The rookie outfielder used to bat first at LSU, and he has said how much he enjoys holding that responsibility. He may not look the part of the classic leadoff man, but he knows how to work the count, use the entire field and run well once he reaches base. There are legitimate reasons to consider him for the No. 1 spot right now, but that leaves an open-ended question about the best place for Abrams to bat elsewhere in the lineup.
Wood made starts at six different spots in the order as a rookie, but he spent most of his time batting either second or third. His patience and willingness to take walks is appreciated no matter where he hits, but his raw power also makes him a logical choice to bat behind others who ideally will be on base when he hits a ball to the moon.
Martinez would love to give Wood some lineup protection, as well. A big-time power hitter like Pete Alonso, Christian Walker or Alex Bregman sure would look nice in the cleanup spot for this team, but Walker signed with the Astros, Alonso seems like he’s destined to return to the Mets and Bregman is still waiting to figure out where he’s going to play this year.
So for now, it’s probably Lowe as No. 4 hitter, with Bell behind him. Lowe may have topped 20 homers only once in his career, but the majority of his at-bats with the Rangers came either as the No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5 hitter. Another patient hitter with a .356 career on-base percentage, he would probably give Wood the best opportunities to steal a base in front of him.
Bell has certainly hit cleanup during his career, but at 32 and coming off a down year that saw him finish with only a .725 OPS for the Marlins and Diamondbacks, he’s going to have to re-establish his credentials if he wants to move higher than fifth in this lineup. His ability to switch-hit, though, does make him a good fit behind the left-handed Wood and Lowe and ahead of the left-handed Garcia.
Speaking of Garcia, he’s coming off a career year in which he actually outslugged both Lowe and Bell. But the second baseman has never really been viewed as a true middle-of-the-order bat. Given the new additions, he seems best suited to bat sixth.
Martinez was forced to bat Ruiz third or fourth far too many times the last few seasons, a product less of his catcher’s abilities and more of a lack of other viable options. On the heels of a rough year at the plate, Ruiz should feel less pressure batting seventh in this new lineup. And he should still get plenty of opportunities to drive in runs with the guys ahead of him on base.
If the Nationals acquire a new third baseman, this whole lineup plan could go in an entirely different direction. But for now, let’s presume they don’t add anyone else, which means Tena is probably the guy to open the season until Brady House is deemed ready. So he most likely bats eighth in this order.
The ninth spot is all but locked up by Young (unless the Nats throw everyone a curveball and acquire another starting outfielder, bumping their Gold Glove-caliber center fielder to the bench). He’s one of the weakest offensive players on the team, but he did show an ability by season’s end to drive the ball to right field with some regularity. And if he can simply get on base, he can swipe second or third as well as anyone and give the top of the lineup a chance to bat with a runner in scoring position.