While the Nationals remain patient and cautious with Keibert Ruiz’s recovery from a concussion, they are starting to see better results from Riley Adams and Drew Millas as the backups get more consistent playing time.
Ruiz, who signed an eight-year, $50 million extension before the 2023 season, has been limited to 68 games this season while dealing with multiple concussions. The 27-year-old has been on the 7-day concussion injured list since July 8 and with 36 games remaining in the season, including today’s finale against the Mets, time is running out for him to return to the field.
Which means the Nats are getting an extensive look at Adams and Millas, albeit at the cost of the health of one of their teammates.
Both backup backstops have already or are on pace to play the most games in a single season in their short major league careers: Adams has already played 57 and Millas, although currently only at 16, is on track to surpass the 20 he played last year.
The overall numbers for Adams haven’t been strong. He’s slashing .198/.257/.356 with a .612 OPS, seven doubles, seven home runs, 17 RBIs, 13 walks and 74 strikeouts (5.7 K/BB rate). But as he’s played more consistently, he’s started to turn a corner and produce better results.
Dating back to July 11, just after Ruiz landed on the IL, Adams has hit .272/.352/.469 with an .821 OPS, four doubles, four homers, seven RBIs, 10 walks, 32 strikeouts (3.2 K/BB rate), one stolen base and 12 runs scored. His .352 on-base percentage ranks fourth among National League catchers and his .469 slugging percentage is good for fifth, with the minimum of 90 plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Millas has better overall results, but in a much smaller sample size. He’s slashed .333/.375/.489 with an .864 OPS, five doubles, one triple, seven RBIs, two stolen bases, three walks and six strikeouts (2.0 K/BB rate) in 50 plate appearances. More recently, he has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, going 12-for-31 (.387) with four doubles, a triple, four RBIs, one walk, four strikeouts, one stolen base and four runs scored.
Their defense behind the plate has also been impressive. Ruiz (15), Adams (13) and Millas (two) have combined to throw out 30 runners this season, which is tied for the most in the major leagues with the Red Sox. For Adams, his 13 caught stealings are more than his previous four seasons combined (11 from 2021-24).
“I think their communication is the best way to put it,” interim manager Miguel Cairo said of his catchers’ progress in his pregame press conference. “I've told them when they're going to catch a day before (so) they're prepared. I try to do matchups. Riley has been swinging the back good. He's been catching really good. And Millas has been unbelievable too. Catching good, throwing guys out on the bases, getting good at-bats. I'm just trying to make the best matchup and put them in the best situation so that they can succeed. That's my whole goal with the players.”
And while Ruiz has been around the team more recently, he’s been able to help his teammates in meetings and during field work.
“Keibert has been in the meetings,” Cairo said. “He's been talking to them. He's been doing his field stuff, on-field staff, doing the weights. The main thing about him is to make sure he doesn't have any reset, or the little things that he gets after he does the workouts go away. So that's the concern that we have. Just make sure he's clean, cleared.”
Although Ruiz is signed for the long-term, Adams was a non-tender candidate last year and is entering his second year of arbitration eligibility this offseason. Millas is still under contract through 2030 and won’t become arbitration-eligible until after the 2027 season. But the Nationals do have to figure out their future plans for the catching position.
Their combined offensive numbers, along with sub-par defensive metrics, rank in the lower third of the major leagues, including nine homers (25th), .282 on-base percentage (.25th), .349 slugging percentage (22nd), .631 OPS (24th) and -7 Defensive Runs Saved (24th).
So the recent run of success seems like a good sign for Adams’ and Millas’ future prospects with the organization. And if Ruiz can’t return this season, they’ll continue to get more opportunities to make their cases to stick around.