Mark Zuckerman

Nats getting fitted for rings today, won't see them until April 4

February 18, 2020, 6:37pm

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The note was visible to all at the top of the video board inside the Nationals clubhouse: "Ring fitting Wednesday and Thursday." Add this to the growing list of developments that remind everyone the Nats' World Series victory really did happen. Players, coaches, support staff and front office executives all will be fitted for their championship rings over the next two days. The finished products will be presented to everybody prior to the Nationals' second home game...

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Nats' infield intentions take shape during first workout

February 18, 2020, 11:26am

Nationals

Nats' infield intentions take shape during first workout

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals' first full-squad workout of 2020 began with an extra-long "Circle of Trust" meeting that at one point featured team massage therapist Patrick Panico's cannonball into the adjacent pool but most importantly featured a hammering home of the overriding message Davey Martinez wants to convey to a club seeking to repeat as World Series champions. "Process. Process. Process," the manager said. "For us, the word 'repeat' doesn't mean anything, except to...

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Kendrick never doubted he'd back with Nats for another year

February 18, 2020, 9:21am

Nationals

Kendrick never doubted he'd back with Nats for another year

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Howie Kendrick went home to Arizona a few days after the World Series ended, a free agent with no assurances of returning to the same Nationals club he had just helped lead to victory. There was reason to wonder if the defending champs would want to bring back a 36-year-old utility man coming off far and away the best season of his career. Not that they didn't love Kendrick and his contributions, but what were the odds he could duplicate that performance at this...

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Sudden fame, success haven't changed driven Soto

February 17, 2020, 1:45pm

Nationals

Sudden fame, success haven't changed driven Soto

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The 21-year-old said what you expect most 21-year-old outfielders to say when asked for their goal upon reporting to spring training. "I come here to make the team," the young outfielder said. "I'm going to fight for my place. I'm going to keep working hard, keep playing baseball the right way. Because it's a lot of new players, a lot of new outfielders, and you don't want to get comfortable on this team. You want to keep going. I come here to play for one spot,...

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The infield and catching plans, cabbage race and title sign

February 17, 2020, 10:29am

Nationals

The infield and catching plans, cabbage race and title sign

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If it wasn't already clear before, Davey Martinez today made his plan for the Nationals infield this spring very clear. Starlin Castro will get all of his work at second base for now. Carter Kieboom will get all of his work at third base for now. AsdrÃºbal Cabrera will get the bulk of his work at third base. Howie Kendrick will work mostly at first and second bases for now, but will get some action at third later in camp. Though this new conglomeration of Nationals...

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Healthy Zimmerman sets goal to avoid IL in 16th MLB season

February 17, 2020, 9:15am

Nationals

Healthy Zimmerman sets goal to avoid IL in 16th MLB season

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman has been coming to Florida for 15 springs now, during which time he's taken 740 official plate appearances, amassing 43 homers and 136 RBIs, batting .320 with a .955 OPS. Suffice it to say, Zimmerman knows the routine. He knows how much work he needs to feel ready for opening day, and that typically is contingent on the physical state of his body. When he didn't feel 100 percent two springs ago, Zimmerman basically took the entire Grapefruit League...

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As position players report, Scherzer ready to face hitters

February 16, 2020, 1:13pm

Nationals

As position players report, Scherzer ready to face hitters

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Nationals position players officially report to spring training this morning, and there may be nobody in camp happier to hear that than Davey Martinez. "I've actually been excited since right after the New Year, really," the third-year manager said. "I've started gathering my thoughts and looking forward to seeing all the guys, and then all of a sudden you're here, you're excited and after about two days of watching pitchers throw bullpens, it's like: 'Let's...

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Upbeat Castro fits right in on first day with Nationals

February 16, 2020, 10:53am

Nationals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Some might be intimidated walking into a clubhouse full of returning veterans - veterans returning from a World Series title, for that matter - and trying to blend in as one of only a handful of new guys. Starlin Castro walked into the Nationals clubhouse today for the first time, though, and looked and acted like he's been here all along. "I've been in the league a while and I know a lot of guys," the 29-year-old infielder said. "It's a little bit scary when you...

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Suzuki takes the high road after Correa lashes out

February 16, 2020, 9:14am

Nationals

Suzuki takes the high road after Correa lashes out

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Kurt Suzuki wasn't expecting to find himself in the middle of the war of words between the Astros and players around the majors who are now blasting the 2017 champs for cheating by illegally stealing signs. But when the Nationals catcher was quoted in The Washington Post saying he believed the Astros were still cheating during the 2019 World Series - "We could hear it from their dugout. We heard their whistling." - he suddenly was thrust into the fray and earned the...

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How improved bullpen could make up for loss of Rendon

February 15, 2020, 5:42pm

Nationals

How improved bullpen could make up for loss of Rendon

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - So much mental energy has been spent this winter trying to figure out how the Nationals are going to account for the loss of Anthony Rendon's production. Here's one potential way they could do it: by having a better bullpen. It may not seem one has anything to do with the other at first glance, but the Nats actually do view this as a realistic way to make up for the loss of Rendon without adding another big bat to their lineup. The idea is simple: If you can't score...

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High-energy Robles reports early, will get chance to lead off

February 15, 2020, 10:02am

Nationals

High-energy Robles reports early, will get chance to lead off

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - He came bounding through the doors around 8:30 a.m., announcing his presence with authority in an otherwise sleepy clubhouse partially filled with pitchers and catchers. Position players are not required to report to Nationals camp until Monday, but a handful have already found their way here, staying mostly quiet and staying mostly out of the way. Victor Robles, however, wasn't worried about letting everybody know he's here. And he's ready to go. "I was having a...

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Super Bowl commercial capped Barrett's emotional comeback

February 15, 2020, 8:56am

Nationals

Super Bowl commercial capped Barrett's emotional comeback

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Aaron Barrett was working out in his hometown in Mississippi three weeks ago when he got a text message from a friend with an odd question included: "Have you seen the Budweiser commercial?" Barrett, completely confused, replied that he hadn't and then asked why. "You're in it," the friend responded. Thus did the Nationals reliever, learn he was part of Budweiser's annual Super Bowl commercial. The 60-second ad, titled "Typical Americans," including clips of...

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Strasburg on track, Rizzo on contract, Hellickson retires

February 14, 2020, 5:57pm

Nationals

Strasburg on track, Rizzo on contract, Hellickson retires

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Like Max Scherzer the previous day, Stephen Strasburg threw 56 pitches during his bullpen session Friday morning. Like Scherzer, he felt perfectly normal. Like Scherzer, this winter and spring really won't be all that different from prior ones, despite all the extra pitches Strasburg threw last fall. "I mean, you try and take the same amount of time off, and then you get right back into it and treat it like another routine," the right-hander said. "So I got the...

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With no trade in works, third base job is Kieboom's to lose

February 14, 2020, 11:25am

Nationals

With no trade in works, third base job is Kieboom's to lose

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have a plan and a backup plan to replace Anthony Rendon at third base this season. Plan A is for Carter Kieboom, long considered one of the organization's top prospects, to prove he deserves the job this spring and enter the season as the everyday third baseman. Plan B is for several veterans already on the roster - AsdrÃºbal Cabrera and Howie Kendrick among them - to hold down the fort at third base while Kieboom gets more seasoning in the minors. There...

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Rizzo won't be satisfied until Astros admit they "cheated"

February 14, 2020, 9:34am

Nationals

Rizzo won't be satisfied until Astros admit they "cheated"

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - At some point this spring, the Astros sign-stealing scandal will dissipate into the background and earn only occasional mention. Not yet, though. The saga that has engulfed the baseball world for weeks continues to be front and center at camps across Florida and Arizona, especially this particular camp that houses both of the 2019 World Series participants. It didn't help that Thursday's press conference outside the Houston clubhouse, in which owner Jim Crane and stars...

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Martinez's message for defending champs: "Repeat the process"

February 13, 2020, 6:32pm

Nationals

Martinez's message for defending champs: "Repeat the process"

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - That Davey Martinez was even present for the opening of spring training Thursday was significant from a Nationals historical perspective. By merely setting foot on the practice fields outside FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, Martinez became only the second manager in club history to lead his third spring camp. Dusty Baker didn't do it. Neither did Davey Johnson, Jim Riggleman or Matt Williams. Frank Robinson technically managed the franchise for five springs, but...

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Healthy Scherzer leads the way on first day of workouts

February 13, 2020, 12:05pm

Nationals

Healthy Scherzer leads the way on first day of workouts

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Oh, yeah, there actually was some baseball being practiced around here today. It kind of got lost in the shuffle of the Nationals opening their title defense while the Astros tried to defend themselves, but pitchers and catchers took the fields outside FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for the first time in 2020. And that meant Max Scherzer took the mound in front of the public for the first time in 2020. Which is always a must-see event. Scherzer actually reports to...

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As Astros apologize, Nats players share thoughts on scandal

February 13, 2020, 10:37am

Nationals

As Astros apologize, Nats players share thoughts on scandal

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The contrast was impossible to ignore. On one side of FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, more than 50 reporters and photographers listened to Astros owner Jim Crane and players Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve apologize for the sign-stealing scandal that has engulfed baseball since it was revealed three months ago. It was not, by all accounts, well received. On the other side of this sprawling complex, a grand total of seven media members (four writers, one print...

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A wild first day of spring expected in West Palm Beach

February 12, 2020, 5:27pm

Nationals

A wild first day of spring expected in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Sometime around 9:30 a.m. today, every pitcher and catcher in Nationals camp will emerge from the clubhouse and gather on the adjacent agility field outside for the first of 37 planned "Circle of Trust" morning meetings. Davey Martinez will set the tone for the day - and the spring in general - with some combination of instruction, wisdom and laughter. Perhaps a live animal will be involved. It's happened before. The World Series champions will be loose and free,...

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Nats invite 22 non-roster players to big league camp

February 12, 2020, 12:01pm

Nationals

Nats invite 22 non-roster players to big league camp

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have invited 22 non-roster players to participate in big league camp, a group that includes a host of veterans with major league experience and a handful of prospects who aren't yet on the organization's 40-man roster. Among the veterans who signed minor league contracts and were extended big league invitations are: * Javy Guerra, who made 40 relief appearances for the Nationals last season with a 4.86 ERA and 1.248 WHIP and then pitched in a pair of...