The Nationals’ ever-changing catching corps underwent more change today when the club signed veteran Jorge Alfaro to a major league deal and sent C.J. Stubbs back to Triple-A one day after he was part of a shutout win in his major league debut.

The move, which caught plenty by surprise, brings a more experienced player to a Nats roster lacking in that area, especially behind the plate. Alfaro, 32, has 496 games of big league experience, mostly with the Marlins and Phillies, though he hasn’t played at this level since brief stints with the Rockies and Red Sox in 2023.

Alfaro had spent the entire season with the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate in Nashville, batting .244 with 15 homers, 49 RBIs and a .715 OPS in 82 games. He was released on Monday, and the Nationals immediately jumped in and offered him a chance to return to the majors.

“It’s emotional, getting back to the big leagues,” he said. “Being able to spend the last couple of months in Nashville, playing in Triple-A, it’s like a blessing from god to get this opportunity with the Nationals.”

With Riley Adams having ascended to the No. 1 catching job since Keibert Ruiz’s placement on the 7-day concussion injured list in early July, Alfaro now becomes the new No. 2 catcher. That role has changed hands several times in the last week alone.

Drew Millas, who had been backing up Adams, suffered a season-ending fracture and dislocation of his left index finger Wednesday in New York. The Nationals promoted Stubbs from Triple-A Rochester to take Millas’ spot, then watched the 28-year-old catch a 2-0 shutout win over the Marlins, with left-hander Andrew Alvarez (also making his major league debut) earning the win.

One day later, interim manager Miguel Cairo was tasked with informing Stubbs he was going back to Rochester. (Millas, meanwhile, was transferred to the 60-day IL to create a 40-man roster spot for Alfaro.)

“He did a really good job yesterday,” Cairo said of Stubbs. “He was under control. He was composed. Called a really good game. It was nice to see him perform that way with Alvarez. It shows that he can do it in the big leagues.”

With four weeks remaining in the season, the Nationals now wait to see if and when Ruiz will be ready to return to the active roster. He’s taking a major step in that direction tonight, beginning a rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg.

Ruiz is scheduled to catch five innings for the Senators, then serve as designated hitter Wednesday. It’s his first live game action since July 5, when he reaggravated the concussion that originally sidelined him June 23.

The Nats will be cautious with Ruiz, basing their decisions on how he looks and feels during this rehab assignment.

“We’ll see how everything goes after five innings. And make sure he’s healthy,” Cairo said. “To me, that’s most important.”

* MacKenzie Gore played catch today, the first time the left-hander has done that since landing on the 15-day IL with shoulder inflammation. It’s merely the first step for Gore, but the fact he was able to do that only four days after going on the IL was encouraging for the Nationals, who hope to have him back on the mound before season’s end.

* Josiah Gray threw 30 pitches over two “innings” of work against live hitters in West Palm Beach today. The right-hander, who is more than 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure on his elbow, could continue to progress to be able to go on a minor league rehab assignment soon, leaving the door slightly open for a potential return to the majors before season’s end.