Call making case for bench spot, Robles healing

JUPITER, Fla. – Alex Call probably reported to spring training with a bit of a leg up for a spot on the Nationals’ bench, based if nothing else on the six weeks he spent with them to close out the 2022 season. The Nats liked his ability to play all three outfield positions and were impressed with the surprising pop he displayed (a .441 slugging percentage) in 115 plate appearances.

That Call has proceeded to perform well this spring has only bolstered his case to make the Opening Day roster. He enters today’s game against the Cardinals with a robust .417 batting average (10-for-24), four doubles and two stolen bases in Grapefruit League play.

“He’s staying on the ball really well,” manager Davey Martinez said. “What I like about Alex right now: He’s on time. His swing looks really easy, really smooth. But he’s getting himself on time every pitch, and I love that.”

Call ostensibly entered camp in competition with two newcomers, Stone Garrett and Derek Hill, for the fourth outfielder’s job. Hill pulled his hamstring earlier this month and will likely open the season on the injured list. Garrett showed off his power stroke Friday night when he launched his first homer of the spring, but overall he’s 5-for-23 with eight strikeouts.

Call, meanwhile, has done just about everything in his power to make the decision an easy one. He added to the ledger Saturday night with two hits, a walk and a run scored in the Nationals’ 10-7 win over the Mets.

“It’s just trusting the process, really,” he said. “I take pride in how I prepare and work in the offseason. It’s just a whole combination of things, but last year was probably my best year in pro ball, so I didn’t feel like there was a whole lot I had to change this offseason.”

Call joined the Nats in August, a waiver claim from the Guardians. By season’s end, he was making regular starts in left field and blasting some meaningful late home runs to lead his team to victory, belying his 5-foot-11, 189-pound frame.

While encouraging Call to continue taking advantage of pitches on the inner half of the plate and drive them to left field, the Nationals also have preached to him the value of taking other pitches back up the middle. He’s done that well through the first two weeks of Grapefruit League play.

Through it all, Call is trying to think more about his daily routine to prepare to play for the season, not the competition he’s in to win a job. It’s not always as easy as it sounds.

“Definitely there’s pressure. There’s pressure every day,” he said. “But when you trust what you’re doing and you show up and you allow the best version of yourself to expect my pitch and hit a line drive up the middle, that’s number one.”

* Victor Robles was bouncing around the clubhouse this morning with a hop in his step not seen since he banged his left knee into the wall in Lakeland on Wednesday. Robles said he’s feeling much better.

Martinez said he’s scheduled to participate fully in workouts Monday and hopes he’ll be back in the lineup Tuesday.

Meanwhile, utilityman Erick Mejia is scheduled to get an MRI on his left knee after he got twisted up making a sliding catch in center field Saturday night.