Martinez urging Kieboom to "have fun" in field

Third baseman Carter Kieboom has played in four games for the Nationals this season, showing great patience at the plate and an eye for the strike zone.

Kieboom is batting .417 (5-for-12) with four walks and one RBI. His on-base percentage is .563 and his OPS is .979. If he played a minimum amount of games, that OPS would rank 13th in the National League.

On July 30 against the Blue Jays in a 6-4 victory, Kieboom went 2-for-2 with two walks and enjoyed a span of reaching base six consecutive times in that series.

In his most recent game, he contributed his first RBI single and added another free pass against the Mets in a 5-3 win on Aug. 4.

At his defensive spot in that contest, Kieboom made a nice throw to get Michael Conforto on a grounder to third base in the second inning. But later in the fifth, he was called for an error when a throw that got away from first baseman Howie Kendrick allowed Brandon Nimmo to go from first to third base on a base hit.

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said that the coaches would go over those two plays with Kieboom. Third base coach Chip Hale and bench coach Tim Bogar focus on Kieboom's fielding at third base and throws across the diamond.

"Two difficult plays for me," Martinez said on a Zoom video call prior to Wednesday's finale against the Mets. "I talked to Bogey and Chip about them. He hasn't played much over there. We had him for an abbreviated time during spring and then (summer training) 2.0. He has gotten better. We talked. I'm sure Chip is going to talk to him today about both those balls. But he's doing a lot better. He's getting confidence every time he goes out there and playing that position. It's going to take some time, but he looks good.

"He's got to keep working on it. I know he comes out every day and works with Chip and Bogey on the position, but he is going to get better."

The start-and-stop element of this season does not help pitchers and other players as far as making sure they don't have unfortunate injuries. The start-and-stop of the season can also have an effect on fielders as they try to get into a rhythm with limited chances.

This is especially true for an infielder who is still learning a new position. Kieboom, 22, has played shortstop his whole baseball life and now he is getting a ton of work at the hot corner. He knew that coming in. But it still will take time.

"The biggest thing is to, like I have to tell him all the time, you do all your work, and all your preparation, during batting practice and before batting practice," Martinez said. "Then once the game starts, you just go play. You have been taught everything, just go out and play and don't worry about a thing. You are a good major league baseball player. You learned a new position, but it is going to come."

Similar to a batter looking for as many at-bats as he can get, Kieboom needs chances at third base to continue to stay in rhythm. With Asdrúbal Cabrera on the team, Martinez will ease Kieboom into it. And allow Hale and Bogar to work with their top prospect so the plays he sees at third base, game in and game out, become second nature. He has played in only 15 major league games, so it will not happen overnight. Martinez wants Kieboom to know they are not rushing him.

"Just go out there and have fun, just play the game," Martinez said. "Be confident. You want the ball to be hit to you. So be ready. Every pitch, just make sure you are ready, and when the ball comes your way, make the play. I tell him all the time, 27 quick outs. You are a part of that, a big part of that, so just make the outs."