As roster begins to change, hope emerges for Nats

The Nationals’ 2022 season began exactly two months ago, and it began with an uninspired loss to a Mets club that has proceeded to win eight of the 10 head-to-head matchups between the two division foes so far.

Along the way, there hasn’t been much reason to get excited about these Nationals. Even after winning three of four over the weekend against an equally struggling Reds team, they own a 21-35 record. At this pace, they would finish 61-101.

But for many, the losses haven’t even been the most frustrating part of the season to date. Many could stomach the losses if they were the product of a young roster learning and growing on the job together. But that’s not what this roster has looked like the last two months.

Though there are a handful of young players who could and should be part of the organization’s long-term plan, most of the guys in uniform have been veteran placeholders. Guys who are only going to be here until the real future of the franchise arrives, whether internally from the minor leagues or externally from other organizations or upcoming drafts and international signing periods.

Slowly but surely, though, that’s going to change. For the first time this season, we are beginning to see potential long-term pieces to the puzzle supplant short-term fillers. With the promise of more to come this summer.

The first big move came Thursday in New York, when Luis Garcia was called up from Triple-A Rochester after Alcides Escobar injured his hamstring. Garcia isn’t a rookie, but the 22-year-old infielder is very much a part of the organization’s plan for 2023 and beyond.

The early returns on Garcia have been both encouraging and discouraging. Encouraging: He’s batting .368 (7-for-19) with two doubles and five RBIs, very much looking like the improved hitter club officials have been touting the last two months. Discouraging: His defensive play at shortstop has been every bit as shaky as club officials spent the last two months using as justification for his lack of promotion.

More changes are coming, it appears. Stephen Strasburg in no way is a young player at this point, but between all the time he’s missed the last two seasons and the four years that remain on his $245 million contract extension, he has to be viewed for better or worse as a long-term part of the puzzle.

Strasburg remains a huge unknown following last summer’s thoracic outlet surgery, but in his last two rehab starts he has tossed 11 innings of one-hit ball. He was scheduled to throw a standard bullpen session Monday in Miami, and barring any setbacks or hesitations it sure looks like he’s going to make his season debut Thursday night against the Marlins.

Whether it happens this week or next, Strasburg’s return will provide a huge jolt of energy to a Nationals rotation that owns a 5.88 ERA, second-worst in the majors. And subsequent additions could provide even more.

After a rough finish to his 2021 season and start to his 2022 season Cade Cavalli is finally enjoying the kind of success at Triple-A he previously enjoyed at Single-A and Double-A. Over his last three outings with Rochester, Cavalli has allowed a total of two runs and eight hits in 19 innings, striking out 20.

The Nats aren’t going to promote their top pitching prospect until they’re certain he’s ready, but Cavalli’s time appears to be getting closer.

And then right behind him will be fellow 2020 draft pick Cole Henry, who after holding Double-A batters to an .067 batting average in seven starts for Harrisburg was promoted to Rochester last week and proceeded to toss five scoreless innings in his debut.

The Nationals will give Henry ample time to gain experience at Triple-A before making the next move, but the 22-year-old right-hander certainly appears to be on a developmental track that will include his big league debut sometime later this season.

Consider then the possibility of the Nats ending 2022 with a rotation that features Strasburg, Cavalli, Henry and Josiah Gray, and then compare that to the rotation they had to open this season.

No matter their record whenever that time comes, there will be legitimate reason to be interested in this team down the stretch. Which, under the circumstances, is really all you can ask for.