With frustrating 2017 behind him, leaner Wieters tries to rebound

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - You can point to any number of reasons why the Nationals lost Game 5 of the National League Division Series to the Cubs, but any list of reasons is going to include Matt Wieters' struggles behind the plate during a disastrous fifth inning that changed the course of that game.

There was the ball squirting through Wieters' legs on a strikeout of Javier Báez. The subsequent wild throw to first base that allowed a run to score. And the catcher's interference call on the next batter.

Yes, a misapplication of Rule 6.03(a) by the umpiring crew contributed to the disaster, given that the ball should have been ruled dead once Báez's backswing struck Wieters. But that didn't prevent the veteran catcher from finding himself at the center of the Nationals' latest soul-crushing loss in a winner-take-all game.

Such an event might linger with some athletes, or even serve as motivation heading into the following season. For Wieters, it was most important to accept the mistakes and move on ASAP.

"I had to forgive myself," he said. "I had to forgive a lot of different things. But it really wasn't that hard to me. With my faith, I've been forgiven for so many different things already. So to be able to just say it's not how I would have liked for it to end obviously ... if you're not doing what the Astros did, it's not how you want it to end. But holding on to bad things is never going to help you get to your goal anyway, so I moved on from whatever happened in Game 5 and was excited about this year. As soon as the last World Series pitch was over, I was focused on this year."

And Wieters' primary focus entering this year was keeping his body in better shape. After feeling like he wore down during the second half of 2017, he decided to make an effort to change his diet and lose weight this winter.

So after weighing in at 238 lbs. at the end of last season, he weighed in this week at 224 lbs.

"I felt like at this point of my career, I wanted to change maybe what weight I played at," he said. "I played at 225 when I was younger and progressively got bigger, stronger and put on up to 235. And I just kind of got to a point where I was like: 'Let's go back to see what it was like. Maybe that weight doesn't feel as good now as it did three or four years ago.'"

The difference is noticeable the moment you see Wieters in person. His face is thinner, his torso svelte.

More importantly, he notices the difference on the field.

"I think mobility has been a lot easier," he said. "Whether it's been freeing me up to get a little more range of motion in my swing, or just feels like a workout doesn't wear as much when you weigh 10 pounds less. So to be able to just feel fresher, lighter after I've worked out and hit and thrown and everything like that is good."

Wieters knows what's at stake this season. His first year in Washington was a major disappointment, with a career-low batting average (.225), on-base percentage (.288) and slugging percentage (.344). Where once he thought he might be able to test free agency and earn a multi-year deal, the 31-year-old had no choice but to pick up his $10.5 million player option.

As much as he tries not to think about it, Wieters couldn't help but hear rumors this winter about the Nationals' attempt to upgrade at the catching position. To date, the only move they've made was the signing of veteran Miguel Montero to a minor league deal, but with J.T. Realmuto still being dangled by the Marlins there's still some uncertainty even as camp begins.

"I've seen it all, because I've just kept waiting to see where guys sign and who's going to go where, and it just seems like my name's on the docket more than anything else," Wieters said. "But I don't like to take too much to where that's my sole motivation to come here in good shape. I wanted to come here in good shape because I felt like it was something that could help my career and help this team. So like I said, I'm going to do everything I can to be the best player I can and let other people decide on the moves I don't have control over."