Yunel Escobar to make spring debut against Yankees

By Josh Land

Nationals

March 23, 2015, 6:29am

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VIERA, Fla. - Second baseman Yunel Escobar will make his Grapefruit League season debut today against the Yankees.

This spring was critical for Escobar, who is essentially learning to play a new position. Escobar has primarily played shortstop throughout his eight-year major league career, but the Nationals traded away reliever Tyler Clippard to fill a need for a more offensive-minded second baseman. Escobar has played only 21 games at the position, all in his rookie season in 2007.

Escobar was scheduled to start the Nats' exhibition opener, but was scratched just before gametime with what was diagnosed as a Grade 1 oblique strain. Nationals manager Matt Williams plans for Escobar to play three innings and placed him at the top of the order so he can hopefully receive at least two at-bats in today's game.

Highly regarded Nats prospect Drew Ward has been brought up to start at third base today. Ward was selected out of high school in the third round by the Nationals in the 2013 draft. He batted .269 with 10 homers, three triples, and 73 RBIs in 115 games for low Single-A Hagerstown last season.

Right-hander Doug Fister makes his fourth start of the spring. He's expected to go five innings or throw around 70 pitches. Fister's ERA is 3.24 in 8 1/3 innings so far.

The tarp is on the field at Space Coast Stadium and rain is in the forecast for today's game, which can be seen on MASN HD at 1 p.m.

For the Nationals
2B Yunel Escobar
SS Ian Desmond
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
C Wilson Ramos
LF Clint Robinson
CF Michael A. Taylor
3B Drew Ward
RHP Doug Fister