Spring Training Game #6 本日の第一弾は小笠原慎之介選手情報です! We will see Ogasawara against Soto!

It almost seems unfair for Shinnosuke Ogasawara‘s second game of Spring Training to face Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Mark Vientos. And yes, James Wood is back in the lineup after nursing the mild tendonitis in his quadricep. He will DH and leadoff in a lineup that looks like a mix of starters, bench players, and prospects. All eyes on Wood and the red-hot smoldering Robert Hassell III who has done this so far: Batting .571 (8-14), 3 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 1 SB, and a 1.571 OPS.

Coincidentally, Soto was traded for Wood and Hassell as part of that blockbuster trade that sent Soto and Josh Bell to San Diego for Wood, Hassell, CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, and Jarlin Susana.

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Spring Training Game #5 Nats lineup looking very Opening Day

The Washington Nationals hosted the crew from MLB Network in camp yesterday. It was good to see so much positivity spread. It certainly gave the Nationals some good exposure on their busy offseason with Kyle Finnegan‘s signing becoming official as the 11th player added on an MLB deal that began in early December when Evan Reifert was taken in the Rule-5 draft.

Since Reifert was added, Rizzo signed 10 new players, nine via free agency, and one through a trade.  Nationals added Trevor Williams, Michael Soroka, FinneganJosh BellShinnosuke OgasawaraJorge LopezLucas SimsAmed Rosario, and Paul DeJong via free agency, and Nathaniel Lowe via trade. Of course, Williams and Finnegan are not new to the Nationals, and same with Bell, but they all signed back as free agents. With the new contracts, bonus incentives and Ogaswara’s posting fee, and Reifert’s Rule-5 acquisition fee, Rizzo has committed to over $51 million in new payroll expenses.

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The Best 26 SHOULD Go North

Recent comments on Talk Nats were spot on with the reasons that Dusty Baker was so successful as a regular season manager. The month of April wasn’t for finding your footing, it was for winning games by putting your best foot forward. Spring Training is your proving grounds after your offseason that added quality over what did not fit. Not everything goes by plan, and we know that — but having a sound plan in place is the key.

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Spring Training Game #4 Nats and Astros

The Nationals have MLB Network in camp today. We know that they have interviews set up with Dylan Crews and James Wood — and neither are in the lineup today. Actually, Wood has been nursing mild quadricep tendonitis, and the team has not allowed him to play to this point. You know who is starting today? Robert Hassell III gets the start after being the star of the first three Spring Training games.

This will be a 1:05 pm start and the game will be available on the Astros radio feed via the MLB app. No TV for this one.

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Kyle Finnegan said “YES.” So I guess Mike Rizzo went to Jared. IYKYK

Rarely do you non-tender a player, and get him back months later as a free agent. That is exactly what has happened with Kyle Finnegan who was non-tendered on Nov. 22. But our source told us that general manager Mike Rizzo always left the door open if Finnegan wanted the deal he was offered at the time of his non-tender. Today was that day.

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THE DAWN OF HOPE 

The crisp air of spring training hung heavy with anticipation. 2025 has become a year of whispers, of “what ifs,” for the Washington Nationals. Last year, the corner lockers at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches were nicknamed “Hope Row” by the top prospects. Both James Wood and Dylan Crews debuted in 2024 to join CJ Abrams, Luis Garcia Jr., Jacob Young, and others who found their grooves.  There were nights when the stadium on South Capitol St. buzzed with electricity, when the future seemed blindingly bright.

But baseball can also be cruel as it is a game of attrition. There are no participation trophies at the pro level. Injuries, slumps, and the relentless grind of a 162-game season — they took their toll. The trade deadline loomed, a moment of truth. Veterans, who had provided invaluable guidance, were sent to contenders, their departures a bittersweet reminder of the rebuilding process.

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Spring Training Game #3; Nats head to Jupiter

The Nationals are headed north in Palm Beach County for today’s game against the Miami Marlins in Jupiter. That is where new Nats’ third baseman, Paul DeJong, makes his home because the Cardinals share Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium with St. Louis, and DeJong was once a budding star with the Cardinals.

This will be a 1:10 pm start and the game will be available on the Marlins radio feed via the MLB app. It is possible on Marlins.com that they have video from a pressbox camera like they have done in previous years.

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The Nats’ new infield on the corners and the effect on total defense on pitching!

The Washington Nationals are returning their middle infield of shortstop CJ Abrams and second baseman Luis García Jr., and have replaced their corner infielders. Per manager Dave Martinez‘s request at the Winter Meetings, he was hoping that general manager Mike Rizzo would get him a new corner infield. In December, Rizzo traded to acquire first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, and patience paid off as Rizzo signed free agent third baseman Paul DeJong in February.

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Spring Training Game #2 本日1回目の小笠原慎之介情報! ナショナルズ球団に!

Did you expect to see Shinnosuke Ogasawara pitching on the second game of Spring Training with basically the Opening Day lineup behind him? With the exception of James Wood nursing the mild tendonitis in his quadricep, every other part of this could be what would we see on Sunday, March 30 at Nationals Park. Here we are at the CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches complex.

This will be a 1:05 pm start and the game will be available on TV via MASN as well as you can get the Nats Radio feed via The Team 980 AM.

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Spring Training Game #1 – Opening Day at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches

Year 20 for Washington Nationals baseball. We have semi-real baseball today as it is Opening Day for these Nationals in their first Spring Training game today of the 2025 season. The team opens up their Grapefruit League schedule against the Houston Astros and that is the team the Nationals share the CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches complex.

This will be a 1:05 pm start and the game will be available on TV via the Houston feed, and on Nats Radio via The Team 980 AM.

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