WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – If there was any reason to debate who will hold the top spot in the Nationals’ batting order to begin the season, Davey Martinez put it to rest today with a fairly definitive revelation.

“CJ is going to lead off,” the eighth-year manager said. “The 3-4-5 will be kind of different. The 2-spot might be a little different at times. But we do know CJ’s going to lead off for us, and we’ll go with that for now.”

So there you have it: CJ Abrams will reclaim the leadoff spot he held for the majority of the 2024 season but did lose at one point when he was struggling at the plate.

The Nats have long believed in Abrams as their long-term answer at the top of the lineup. And over a 13-month stretch from July 2023 into August 2024, he held that job nearly every day, batting .252 with a .318 on-base percentage, .441 slugging percentage, 111 runs scored, 35 doubles, nine triples, 28 homers, 89 RBIs and 56 stolen bases.

But Abrams’ second half slump last summer prompted Martinez to move him out of the leadoff spot for a while, giving him a chance to clear his mind and hopefully get himself back on track. During that stretch – and during the final week of September after Abrams was demoted to the minors for disciplinary reasons – rookie Dylan Crews took over the No. 1 position in the order.

Fan-selected top 20 moments will be displayed throughout the ballpark;
three will be featured in Mystery Bobblehead giveaway on May 24

The Washington Nationals asked, and thousands of fans cast their ballots to choose the NATS20 Fan Favorite Moments, part of the Washington Nationals season-long 20^th Anniversary celebration. Images representing the fan-selected top 20 will be prominently displayed throughout the ballpark beginning this season, and three will be featured as part of the Mystery Moments Bobblehead giveaway on Saturday, May 24. To learn more about the Nationals 20^th Anniversary festivities and purchase tickets, visit nats.com/NATS20.

From the Ryan Zimmerman walk-off homer that rang loud as liberty to open Nationals Park in 2008, to a 2019 World Series Championship celebration that lasted until the dawn’s early light and Teddy’s hard-fought first win in the Presidents Race, there has been no shortage of legendary memories in the Nationals’ first 20 years in Washington, D.C. A group of panelists, including Zimmerman; broadcasters Bob Carpenter, Kevin Frandsen, Dave Jageler, Dan Kolko and Charlie Slowes; public address announcer Jerome Hruska; and organist Matthew Van Hoose, helped select an initial list of favorites, which was then whittled down to 20 during a two-week online voting period in which thousands of Nationals fans submitted their selections.

Three NATS20 Fan Favorite Moments – Jayson Werth’s 2012 National League Division Series walk-off, Howie Kendrick’s 2019 World Series home run off the foul pole and a career worth of Ryan Zimmerman walk-offs – will be featured as part of the Mystery Bobblehead giveaway on Saturday, May 24, when the Nationals host the San Francisco Giants for a 4:05 p.m. matchup. Twenty-thousand fans in attendance will receive one of the three collectibles. Click HERE to purchase tickets. Additionally, the top 20 will be celebrated throughout the season with snapshots around Nationals Park.

The complete list, in chronological order:

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – After 10 days of official workouts, not to mention plenty more unofficial workouts that took place before camp actually opened, the Nationals are undoubtedly ready for something different. Like exhibition games, which fortunately start showing up on the schedule Saturday.

“Yeah, we’re ready,” manager Davey Martinez said. “As I’ve said before, these guys have been here for a while now. They’re itching to get out there and compete.”

The Nationals wrapped up the first portion of spring training today with one final full-squad workout on the back fields behind CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. They’ll finally set foot inside the main stadium Saturday to face the Astros in both teams’ Grapefruit League opener.

Don’t expect the entire projected Opening Day lineup to be out there right off the bat. We already know James Wood (who is dealing with left quad tendinitis) is being held back for the moment. It also sounds like CJ Abrams will sit Saturday, with veteran utilityman Amed Rosario getting the nod at shortstop.

“We’re still in February,” Martinez said. “I’m going to give everybody a chance to get out there and play and get going. We’ve just got to be careful. The ultimate goal is to keep everyone healthy and get them ready for Opening Day at the end of March.”

SARASOTA, Fla. – Baseball is a game of punches and counterpunches. 

Last season, Colton Cowser came out of the gates swinging. The former fifth-overall pick mashed his way through April and March to the tune of a .303/.372/.632/1.004 slash line. 

The elite defense didn’t hurt either. 

Cowser ranked in the 96th percentile in both outs above average and arm strength. His 11 OAA ranked eighth among all outfielders in the game and was best among left fielders. Couple great defense and an incredible start at the plate, and you’ve got an everyday starter. 

But then came a counterpunch. 

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – It was posted on the Nationals’ official “X” account one week ago, Feb. 14. The caption read: “Jacob but he goes by Jacked ??” The accompanying photo showed Jacob Young in a batting cage, holding his bat behind his head as he looked at someone (A teammate? A coach?) behind and to the right of the camera, which was positioned at a low angle looking up at him in a way that highlighted his surprisingly large biceps.

At last check, the post had generated more than 203,000 views. Which is only slightly more than the number of texts Young received about the photo.

“More than anything else that’s ever been put out there of me,” he said with a laugh.

Was that an accurate depiction, Young was asked, of the size of his arms?

“No,” he said, laughing again. “I think, honestly, good angle. Whoever was on the camera deserves a raise from me.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – As Saturday’s exhibition opener creeps closer, the Nationals are trying to make sure they cover all their bases during these final days of full-squad workouts. Literally.

This morning’s session included the entire defense on the field as one, specifically working on proper relay technique. Outfielders tracked down balls hit to the gaps or corners. Infielders positioned themselves to either receive the relay throw, back up the relay throw or cover an open base. Pitchers ran to their correct backup position in foul territory.

It can all sound mundane, especially for players at the major league level. But manager Davey Martinez pointed out the importance of everyone involved getting it right.

“It is repetitive, but what we’re trying to teach them is: These things do matter,” Martinez said. “The dropping of the ball, the making of a good throw to the bases, to understand that you don’t leave your feet if the guy throws the ball, we’ve got a trail guy behind, all that stuff. Believe it or not, when you see them do it, sometimes they forget. As I always say … we treat these guys like they’re from Mars, they don’t know anything from the game.”

Martinez believes the Nationals cost themselves runs during the course of the 2024 season with seemingly little mistakes that allowed runners to take extra bases (especially trailing runners). That’s why he wants all cut-offs to be caught cleanly, and why he wants the other infielders and pitchers in correct position to cover bases or back up the play in case someone does try to steal an extra 90 feet.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Two weeks into the new year, the Nationals had only one relief pitcher on their roster with any kind of substantial big league experience: Derek Law. Clearly, Mike Rizzo still had plenty of work to do before the start of spring training.

The process remains slow, but the Nats have managed to add three experienced relievers over the last month. They signed right-hander Jorge López to a $3 million deal on Jan. 11. They signed left-hander Colin Poche to a minor league deal on Feb. 7. And then on Wednesday they signed right-hander Lucas Sims to a $3 million deal.

At long last, a bullpen that was woefully short on proven arms now has four veterans to take some pressure off the organization’s young relievers.

“These guys have done it. They understand it. They’ve done it at the major league level,” manager Davey Martinez said. “They can teach our younger guys what it takes to go out there and compete, to be put in these high-leverage situations. Talk to them about controlling your heartbeat, always being ready, what their routine is like in every situation. I’m excited about the guys we brought in, the veteran guys, because they’re willing to do that.”

All three newly signed veterans have said the right things about their individual responsibilities and their desire to mentor younger teammates who haven’t been through the meat grinder before.

Hall of Fame sportswriter Thomas Boswell, whose columns chronicled the return of baseball to the nation’s capital, the Washington Nationals 2019 World Series run and everything in between, will throw out the ceremonial Opening Day first pitch as the Club begins its 20^th Anniversary celebration on Thursday, March 27. Visit nats.com/February to secure tickets to all Nationals home games with no fees through the end of the month.

“It's my great honor to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day,” Boswell said. “I'd be better suited to write about and perhaps make fun of someone else doing it. But, for a D.C. native who waited 33 years for a team to return to town and then win the World Series six years ago, fantasy-come-true is an understatement. 

“Thanks to the Nats. And to Washington's fans for our rich, fun 50-year ride together.”

Boswell spent more than 50 years as a sportswriter and columnist at The Washington Post and was named the 2025 winner of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Career Excellence Award. He will be honored at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., during this summer’s induction weekend and will be included in an exhibit alongside other writers and broadcasters.

“We are honored to have Tom throw out the first pitch on Opening Day. He’s been a tremendous champion of Major League Baseball in Washington, D.C., and he is truly deserving of this honor,” said Mark D. Lerner, Managing Principal Owner of the Washington Nationals. “We were so happy to see Boz recognized by the Hall of Fame, and there is no better person to help us start our 20^th Anniversary season. My father was such an admirer of his work, and we are all so excited to see him in Cooperstown this summer.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Two days into full-squad workouts, more than a few observers have noticed a crispness to the Nationals’ infield defense that wasn’t always there last year.

With middle infielders CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr. returning, now joined on the corners by Nathaniel Lowe and Paul DeJong, the unit as a whole looks sharper than it did last season.

“We’ve got to catch the baseball. We talk about it all the time,” manager Davey Martinez said. “We were really good in the beginning, and toward the second half we were not good at all. We’ve got to be consistent, and I think with the guys we brought in … they’re going to help our young guys.”

Lowe takes over at first base, already the proud owner of a Gold Glove Award from 2023 when he was with the Rangers. DeJong, just signed this week, doesn’t look inexperienced at third base, even though he only moved there from shortstop in the middle of the 2024 season.

Abrams is still working on his fielding mechanics and can look a bit stiff at times, but the organization believes the All-Star shortstop is primed to make significant strides after his second half struggles last season.

SARASOTA, Fla. – There aren’t many prospects in baseball with an 80 grade tool. 

The grading scale, ranging from 20 to 80, evaluates five different tools for position players: Hit (evaluating contact), power, run (evaluating overall speed offensively and defensively), arm and field. 

MLB Pipeline’s highest graded position player, Roman Anthony, doesn’t have a single grade above a 60. Nor does Walker Jenkins, Pipeline’s third overall prospect in their top 100. 

Coby Mayo’s prodigious power has a 70 grade according to Pipeline’s scouts. As do the power tools of some recent top draft picks like Jac Caglianone and Charlie Condon. 

It’s very rare to find a perfect grade of an 80. Enrique Bradfield Jr., according to some outlets, has two: run and field. 

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Josiah Gray knows exactly where he currently stands in his rehab from Tommy John surgery.

“I’m about six months and three weeks in,” he said. “It’ll be seven months on the 24th.”

Forgive the Nationals right-hander for being able to recite such specific mileposts off the top of his head. It’s just the way it is for any rehabbing pitcher. It’s about the only way to stay sane throughout this long, arduous process.

Since he went under the knife July 24 to have his torn elbow ligament replaced and have an internal brace implanted in the elbow to further stabilize everything, Gray has known when he’ll be allowed to do what.

For six months, all he could do was exercise and physical therapy. Nothing with a baseball allowed. Then on Jan. 27, he finally got to cross a major item off the rehab list when he played catch for the first time since surgery.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Before his team took the field for the first official full-squad workout of the spring, Davey Martinez gathered everyone together this morning for his first “Circle of Trust” meeting of the spring.

No, there weren’t any camels. Nor any other live animals. Yet. (There’s still five weeks of camp to go, of course.)

There was, however, a message from the manager that didn’t resemble any of the previous seven camp-opening messages he has delivered during his time here. Martinez’s first four teams were veteran-laden squads that expected to win big. His last three teams were firmly in the rebuilding category, with long-term development taking precedence over short-term success.

The tone this year, Martinez believes, should be different.

“I hear a lot about how our core guys are going to be really good, and they’re coming. I don’t really want to hear that anymore,” he said. “I told them today: ‘We’re here. This is the core. These are the guys we anticipated would be here. You guys are here. You got your feet wet. It’s time to go out there and perform every day, go 1-0 every day.’

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – James Wood sat out defensive drills on the first day of full-squad workouts, the Nationals left fielder hampered by left quadriceps tendinitis.

Wood insisted it’s nothing serious, and he was able to take batting practice today with no apparent issues. The ailment has been bothering him since the offseason, though, enough to warrant an MRI. That test, Wood said, showed no structural damage.

“It’s just inflammation,” he said. “The muscle’s just a little (ticked) off. I trust the training staff. I feel good about everything I’m doing, so I have no doubt I’ll be just fine.”

Asked what his level of concern is, Wood replied: “Zero.”

Wood has been a regular presence on the practice fields for the last week as one of many early-arriving position players who took batting practice and faced live pitching. But when the entire squad officially assembled today and everyone took his place in the field, Wood stayed back and watched from foul territory as Alex Call and Juan Yepez alternated drills in left field.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Jordan Westburg is intense. Fans like intense. 

Would his friends and family describe him that way?

“Probably,” Westburg laughed. “I can be intense, you know? I’m not gonna dodge those allegations. But I do think there’s a lighter side, there’s a less serious side to me off the field especially. But here, I’m kind of very business-like, very matter of fact.” 

Westburg was all business in 2024. Flying under the radar entering the year, the third baseman put together an All-Star campaign. Westy posted a .792 OPS in his 107 games, but rather than boasting about the positives, he would point to the fact that his total wasn’t closer to 160. 

“I learned a lot last year from getting to play more,” Westburg said. “I was very bummed that I didn’t get a full season. I’m looking forward to trying to stay healthy this year and get a full season and see what we can piece together” 

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – There’s no ill will. Josh Bell wished he could’ve been a National this entire time, but he has always understood why Mike Rizzo included him in the Juan Soto trade package that brought five prospects to D.C. in August 2022 and remade the franchise for the long term.

“That’s just baseball,” he said. “I would have made the same move.”

Bell felt that way at the time, he felt that way in the 2 1/2 years since as he bounced from San Diego to Cleveland to Miami to Arizona. And he still feels that way now, thrilled to be back where this little odyssey began, reunited with the Nationals after signing a $6 million deal with them this winter.

It’s a Nationals team that looks very different from the one he parted.

“You see what we got in return,” he said.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Day two of live batting practice at Nationals camp saw several returning pitchers on the mound facing teammates. It also saw one especially notable newcomer who drew tons of extra attention.

Shinnosuke Ogasawara had a large crowd assembled on Field 3 behind the plate, in the dugouts and behind the fences, with everyone from club officials to teammates to media members to fans wanting to get a first look at the Japanese left-hander as he faced major league hitters for the first time.

Ogasawara faced an experienced group of position players including Josh Bell, Luis García Jr., Paul DeJong and Amed Rosario. There was some contact off him, but there were plenty of uncomfortable swings from hitters who were thrown off by the 27-year-old’s repertoire and hesitation delivery.

Garcia was impressed when he returned to the dugout, noting Ogasawara has not only a good changeup and slow curveball but also a sneaky fastball. That ability to change speeds and make everything look the same coming out of his hand could prove to be a challenge for big league batters.

“His arm action, it looks just like a fastball coming in,” manager Davey Martinez said of the changeup in particular. “The thing we talked with him is: If he throws it over the plate – it doesn’t have to be east-to-west as we always talk about – it’s really, really good. There’s a whole lot of swings, not very good swings, as we saw today. But he’s got to understand that he needs to be over the plate with it, down.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Nathaniel Lowe looked around the Nationals clubhouse Sunday morning and tried to get used to a few ideas previously foreign to him.

He’s not only the new guy in camp, having spent the last four seasons with the Rangers. He’s also now a veteran among a sea of promising young players, even though he’s only 29 himself and still two seasons away from free agency.

Oh, he’s also the highest-paid player on the team after ranking ninth last year in Texas as part of a roster that included the likes of Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.

“I hope the guys aren’t scared to say something (to me),” Lowe said, perhaps half-joking and half-serious. “Because I know in that situation, I was freaking out when you see guys with some time. It’s still weird to be considered one of the older guys. But we’ll make the most of it.”

The Nationals acquired Lowe in December for reliever Robert Garcia because he filled a glaring need on their roster: a first baseman who can both hit for power and play smooth defense. And unlike free agents Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, he came relatively cheap (he’ll make $10.3 million this season, with a raise in store for 2026, his final year of arbitration eligibility).

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nationals’ search for more power has landed on a former All-Star shortstop who will now be asked to play third base in D.C.

The Nats signed Paul DeJong to a one-year, $1 million contract this morning, adding the veteran infielder to a roster lacking in experience and proven home run power. The 31-year-old passed his physical and settled into a new clubhouse, where he now resides in between veteran first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and young shortstop CJ Abrams.

"This was the best offer I had, and I'm happy for this offer," he said. "This worked out great for me. Honestly, I think this is a great team for me to be on right now. A lot of great, young talent. I know a few guys in camp already, so it's not too unfamiliar to me. And being a local guy, living in (nearby) Jupiter, it makes it nice. I can just transition right into this first day."

Needing to clear space for DeJong on the 40-man roster, the Nationals placed right-hander Josiah Gray on the 60-day injured list. Gray isn't expected to return from last summer's Tommy John surgery until late this season.

A Rookie of the Year finalist in 2017 and an All-Star in 2019 with the Cardinals, DeJong has spent the last two seasons bouncing between five different organizations. He spent last year with the White Sox and Royals, hitting 24 homers with a .703 OPS but struggling to make contact, as evidenced by his .227 batting average, .276 on-base percentage, 156 strikeouts and 23 walks in 482 plate appearances.

Heston Kjerstad’s reputation is that of a powerful slugger from the left side of the plate.

So would you believe me if I told you that he and Jackson Holliday had the exact same career minor league batting average? Or that Kjerstad’s .387 on-base percentage was just three points below Adley Rutschman’s down on the farm? The Arkansas product has proved himself to be a well-rounded force at the plate, and an OPS close to .750 in limited action in the big leagues is a sign of better things to come. Manager Brandon Hyde and general manager Mike Elias seem to think so, too. 

“He’s put up huge Triple-A numbers, and there’s opportunity now,” Hyde told reporters down in Sarasota.

“I think he’s kind of earned the right to get a lot of at-bats in the corner outfield and in the DH spot, specifically against right-handed pitching,” added Elias. 

As Elias said, Kjerstad has earned at-bats in the big leagues. But there are only so many swings and roster spots to go around. 

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with infielder Paul DeJong (de-Young) on a one-year contract and transferred Josiah Gray to the 60-day Injured List on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

DeJong, 31, joins the Nationals after he hit .227 with 17 doubles, 24 home runs, 56 RBI, two stolen bases, 23 walks and 54 runs scored in 139 games between Chicago (AL) and Kansas City in 2024. He ranked ninth among American League infielders in home runs, and 41 of his 101 hits (40.6%) went for extra bases.

After playing shortstop for all but 22 games in the first seven years of his career, DeJong saw his first action at third base last season, producing five outs above average in 41 games at the hot corner, tied for fourth in the American League.

A National League All-Star with St. Louis in 2019, the Orlando, Fla., native is a career .229 hitter with 137 doubles, four triples, 140 home runs, 400 RBI, 25 stolen bases and 395 runs scored in eight Major League seasons between St. Louis (2017-23), Toronto (2023), San Francisco (2023), Chicago (AL) (2024) and Kansas City (2024). His 115 homers for St. Louis are the most in Cardinals history by a shortstop.

Since his debut in 2017, DeJong has played 784 games at shortstop, 41 games at third base and 22 games at second base.