Nats expect Kieboom to return once swing progresses

The Nationals' decision to demote Carter Kieboom on Wednesday, while surprising, came down to one irrefutable fact: The rookie infielder wasn't hitting enough to continue warranting a spot on the major league roster.

It was not, manager Davey Martinez insisted, a reflection of a change in the organization's long-term belief in Kieboom.

"I told him: 'Hey, you're going to be our third baseman,' " Martinez said during Wednesday night's postgame Zoom session with reporters, the first opportunity he had to address the transaction made earlier in the afternoon. "We just want to get you right. We want to get your swing right."

Kieboom's swing had not been right this season. Though he showed impressive patience and drew a team-high 11 walks, he was batting just .200 (10-for-50) with zero extra-base hits and 20 strikeouts.

The Nationals hoped the 22-year-old could figure things out on the fly and hit the way they always envisioned he would. But with no progress in sight, and the season about to reach the midway point, they felt the time was right to make a change.

So Kieboom heads to the club's alternate training site in Fredericksburg, where there are no official games to play but plenty of opportunity to work on things while facing teammates from the Nationals farm system.

The message: Be aggressive within the strike zone and focus on hitting gap to gap.

"Just go there, get your swing right," Martinez said. "As soon as we deem that you're ready, and you're back to who you are - which is a guy that drives the ball to left-center field, drives the ball to right-center field, squares balls up - then you'll be back here playing third base. So keep your head up."

Kieboom's departure does leave the Nationals infield awfully thin. With Starlin Castro recovering from a broken right wrist and Ryan Zimmerman sitting out the season, they've now got six players for five daily spots in the lineup. Eric Thames and Howie Kendrick are playing first base and serving as designated hitter. Luis García, 20, has become the everyday second baseman. Trea Turner remains entrenched at shortstop. And Asdrúbal Cabrera takes over at third base, with Josh Harrison available to fill in at several positions.

The issue becomes more prevalent when facing an opposing left-hander. Martinez has no choice but to start one of two left-handed hitters: either Thames or García.