The Washington Nationals are rolling out a fascinating lineup today, featuring some fresh faces and promising talent. Eli Willits, just 18, is making his first start after a brief debut off the bench earlier in Spring Training.
On the mound, we have Alex Clemmey, a 20-year-old pitcher who’s turning heads as the team’s 11th-ranked prospect. Last season, Clemmey impressed with a 2.47 ERA across 19 games in High-A, finishing strong in Double-A.
Unfortunately, fans won't catch this one on TV, but you can tune in via Nats’ radio on the MLB app or 980 AM in the DMV area.
Before taking the field, Willits shared his excitement: “Excited for the opportunity to go out there and play. Just excited to sit in the dugout and pick everyone’s brains.
Go and watch such great players play the game. … Be prepared and always be ready.”
Joining Willits and Clemmey, catcher Harry Ford is back in action after representing Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic. Brady House is likely the only Opening Day starter in today’s lineup, but there’s fierce competition for roster spots. Players like Jose Tena are eyeing the infield utility role, while Andres Chaparro, Abimelec Ortiz, Robert Hassell III, Joey Wiemer, and Christian Franklin are all vying for positions in the lineup.
The Nationals have posted an impressive 11-5 record with three ties in their first 19 Spring Training games. Adding a 5-1 victory over Venezuela’s WBC team, they stand at 12-5. While Spring Training success doesn’t always translate to the regular season, it certainly sets a positive tone.
With only 19 games under their belt, no batter has exceeded 31 plate appearances, and no pitcher has surpassed 9.0 innings. As the starters get more playtime, expect those numbers to rise.
Some offensive stats are less than stellar, but it’s essential to take them with a grain of salt. While there are reasons for concern, especially with some of the processes we’ve seen, it’s all part of the Spring Training learning curve.