Parra debuts, Zimmerman slugs, Suero dominates

It was a spring training game, three at-bats and five innings in left field in Jupiter, Fla. Gerardo Parra had done something along those lines hundreds of times in his career.

And yet this one felt different. Some 17 months removed from the last game he played in a Nationals uniform, the veteran outfielder wasn't just going through the motions when he took the field Monday.

"I feel emotional inside," he said during a Zoom session with reporters afterward. "Really, really excited."

Re-signed by the Nationals after spending the 2020 season in Japan, Parra finally made his 2021 Grapefruit League debut Monday. That debut had been delayed several weeks due to the right knee surgery he needed last fall. He knocked the rust off playing in a couple of B games on back fields last week, then was cleared to take the field for his first real exhibition game of the spring.

"A little bit nervous," he admitted. "The only thing, a little bit, is my knee. But when I go stretching and running a little bit, I said: 'OK, I feel great.' And that's more important right now. So happy to be back, happy to play with my teammates, happy to see the fans and I'm ready to rock 'n' roll."

Parra took three at-bats, delivering an opposite-field single in one of them. He tracked down a few fly balls, and though the brace on his right knee was noticeable underneath his pants, he didn't appear to be laboring at all.

As he spends less time thinking about his knee, Parra can spend more time thinking about the task he still faces. A non-roster invitee to camp, he now has two weeks to try to convince club officials he deserves the final spot on the opening night bench.

"You know what? Right now ... I'm playing baseball hard every day I come," he said. "I play like every day is the last game. I don't play (to) make the team. I don't put it in my mind, that one. Just play happy every time. It's not my decision. The only thing I can control is just feel 100 percent, and I feel good today. Whatever decision they're having, I'm happy for them."

Other notable developments from Monday's 4-2 loss to the Cardinals ...

* Ryan Zimmerman continues to look locked in at the plate, with no signs of rust after opting out of the 2020 season. The 36-year-old first baseman belted an inside fastball from St. Louis right-hander Jon Gant 413 feet to left field for a two-run homer, his third of the spring already.

In five Grapefruit League games, Zimmerman is batting .462 (6-for-13) with three homers, a double, seven RBIs, a .500 on-base percentage and a 1.731 OPS that ranks fourth among all major leaguers who have taken at least 10 plate appearances this spring.

"We love Zim," teammate Max Scherzer said. "It's great to have him back in the fold. We both get to joke that the old guys are back together, and we need him. He's nice and old. Everyone wants to tear down the old guys, and I get it, but it's fun to see Zim go out there and still have success."

* Wander Suero continues to quietly dominate out of the bullpen this spring. The right-hander struck out the side in the seventh inning Monday, extending his near-perfect run to date.

In five appearances spanning five innings, Suero has allowed two hits and one walk while striking out nine. For a Nationals club seeking another reliable relief arm after last week's unexpected release of veteran Jeremy Jeffress, Suero's performance to date has been eye-opening.

"That's huge, man," manager Davey Martinez said. "I love where he's at right now. He's worked hard. And the biggest thing with him is consistency. I talked to him about that, about being consistent, being consistent in the strike zone. His stuff plays, as we all know, but when he's throwing strikes the way he is, he's tough to hit. ... If he can maintain that, he's going to be a force in that bullpen."

* Austin Voth isn't making much of a push to be considered for the fifth starter's job. The right-hander, coming off a rough 2020 season, got battered around in relief of Scherzer on Monday. He faced seven batters in the fifth inning and retired only two of them. Six Cardinals batters put the ball in play (all off fastballs) and sported an average exit velocity of 100.3 mph.

In four spring appearances (one start, three out of the bullpen), Voth has given up five runs and 12 hits in six innings. Out of minor league options, he either needs to make the opening night roster or else clear waivers to remain in the organization.

"His velo was down (from) what it was his first couple outings, but I'm not going to judge him right now," Martinez said. "I think he looks good. What I'm looking for with him is his mechanics, and his mechanics look really good. He's going to get back out there in a few days, and we'll see where we're at with him."