Early camp invitees could play in major league spring training games soon

The Nationals played their first spring training game Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, winning 6-2.

Several players who were non-roster invitees to camp were in the starting lineup, including outfielder Chris Heisey, shortstop Jason Martinson and catcher/DH Spencer Kieboom.

Heisey played for Triple-A Buffalo last season, while Martinson and Kieboom are both home-grown talents in the Nationals system.

Martinson and Kieboom are also a year or two removed from being on the Nationals' early camp roster, which this season feature players like catcher Jakson Reetz, right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, outfielder Victor Robles and infielder Jose Marmolejos.

It is conceivable we could see a few of these young players getting some playing time in the major league spring training games in the coming weeks - or, more likely, next season.

Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba says the early camp is designed for a few different reasons.

"We have some older players here that will help supplement the major league camp when we need players to go over there and give those players a head start on the season, and (it) also allows them to back up some games in the major league camp," Scialabba said.

Scialabba said the early camp is crucial for starting pitchers.

"Obviously, this gives our starting pitchers a head start here to make sure they are on that throwing program and up to speed," Scialabba said. "It gives them a little more time to work on some things with our coaching staff.

"For our young prospects, it gives them an opportunity to continue what we build off from instructional league last year. We had a great instructional league. It helps them kind of continue where they left off."

This early camp roster also is not every prospect in the system, or every player that will play with the club at different levels this season.

"Some of the players that may not break with the full-season club are not necessarily here," Scialabba said. "They're going to come later with the regular camp."