Every spring, Major League Baseball opens the door to opportunity - and for the Washington Nationals, that door is wide open this year. With 62 players in camp, including a sizable group of non-roster invitees (NRIs), the Nationals are casting a wide net. This blend of prospects, journeymen, and familiar faces offers a mix of potential upside and depth, and if recent history is any indication, one or two of these NRIs could force their way onto the Opening Day roster.
Just look back to 2024, when Jesse Winker earned a spot after coming in as an NRI. The year before that, Brad Lord did the same. The path is there - it just takes the right spring.
This year’s camp features a compelling positional battle at first base. It’s one of the most open competitions on the roster, and several NRIs are in the thick of it. Warming Bernabel, Matt Mervis, and Yohandy Morales are all in the mix, each bringing a different profile - and a different set of questions - to the table.
Yohandy Morales: A High-Upside Wild Card
Let’s start with Morales, a former second-round pick in 2023 and one of the more intriguing names in camp. He’s got the pedigree, the power, and the potential - but he’s also got some red flags.
Originally a third baseman in college, Morales has shifted over to first base, which naturally dings his value a bit. Moving down the defensive spectrum always puts more pressure on the bat, and that’s where the biggest question marks lie.
Morales has undeniable raw power, but the swing-and-miss issues are real. Last season, he struck out in over 30% of his Triple-A plate appearances and put the ball on the ground more than half the time. That’s not a great combo for a corner infielder trying to slug his way onto a big-league roster.
Still, there are reasons to keep an eye on him. Morales was productive during winter ball in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Series, flashing the kind of power that made him a top draft pick.
The level of competition wasn’t elite, but it gave a glimpse of what he’s capable of when things click. If the Nationals’ new hitting coaches can help tighten up his swing mechanics - something scouts have been concerned about - Morales could put together the kind of spring that forces the front office to take notice.
He’s not the favorite in the first base race, but he might have the highest ceiling. If he gets hot, don’t be surprised if he plays his way into a roster spot.
Warming Bernabel: Contact Skills, But Limited Ceiling
Then there’s Warming Bernabel, a 23-year-old who briefly caught fire with the Rockies last season. In his first week in the majors, Bernabel was hitting a blistering .500 with three home runs - a debut that had fans buzzing. But the league adjusted quickly, and Bernabel came back to earth, finishing the season with a .252 average and a .698 OPS.
Still, there’s something here. Bernabel makes a lot of contact and hits the ball in the air - two traits that give him a shot to contribute offensively. His 17.1% strikeout rate and above-average pull-side fly ball rate suggest he knows how to put the bat on the ball and elevate it, which is more than you can say for a lot of young hitters.
But here’s the catch: he doesn’t hit the ball very hard, and he chases a lot of pitches. That’s a tough combo, especially for a first baseman, where offensive production is non-negotiable.
Bernabel might carve out a role as a platoon bat or depth piece, but unless he shows a jump in power or plate discipline, his ceiling is limited. That said, he’s still young and provides value as a controllable depth option.
Matt Mervis: Local Kid with Big Power and Big Questions
Matt Mervis brings a different kind of intrigue. The left-handed slugger grew up in Washington, D.C., idolizing Ryan Zimmerman, and now he’s fighting for a chance to wear the same uniform. It’s a great story - but can the production match the narrative?
Mervis has long been known for his power, and it’s not just theoretical. He’s mashed over 100 home runs in the minors, and for a brief moment last April with the Marlins, it looked like he might be putting it all together. He hit seven homers that month and posted an .848 OPS, finally flashing the potential that’s made him a perennial “Quad-A” candidate.
But May was a disaster. The strikeouts piled up - he whiffed in 37.3% of his plate appearances last year - and he eventually lost his roster spot. Now he’s trying to reset with his hometown team.
Mervis is the classic boom-or-bust slugger. The power is real, but the swing-and-miss issues make him a risky bet. Still, if he gets hot in camp, he could force his way into a platoon role, especially if paired with someone like Bernabel to balance the handedness.
Orelvis Martinez: A Former Top Prospect Looking for Redemption
While the first base battle takes center stage, there’s one non-first baseman worth spotlighting: Orelvis Martinez. A few years ago, Martinez was a top-100 prospect in the Blue Jays system, known for his massive power and ability to stick on the infield. From 2021 to 2023, he hit at least 28 homers every year in the minors - and some of those were no-doubters.
But 2024 brought a major setback. After a promising start in Triple-A and a brief MLB debut, Martinez was suspended 80 games for a PED violation. When he returned in 2025, he didn’t look like the same player, hitting just .176 with 13 homers in 99 Triple-A games.
So which version of Martinez is real? That’s what the Nationals are trying to find out. They signed him to a minor league deal and gave him a spring invite, hoping to tap back into the upside that once made him a rising star.
Martinez can handle second and third base adequately, and he’s historically fared well against left-handed pitching. If he shows signs of life this spring, he could be a sneaky candidate for a platoon role - potentially pairing with Luis García at second base.
More likely, he starts the year in Triple-A, but the upside is still there. If 2025 was just a blip, the Nats might have found a bargain.
Other Names to Know
Beyond the headliners, there are a few other NRIs worth mentioning. Andry Lara, Shinnosuke Ogasawara, Riley Adams, and Trey Lipscomb were all designated for assignment this offseason but cleared waivers and were invited to camp. They’re long shots to break camp, but don’t be surprised if they contribute at some point this season.
Top pitching prospects Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora are in camp as well, though neither will pitch this spring due to injury. Sykora is recovering from Tommy John surgery, while Susana is rehabbing from a lat issue.
Position player prospects like Seaver King, Andrew Pinckney, and Caleb Lomavita are also in the mix, getting valuable exposure even if they’re not in contention for a roster spot just yet.
And then there are the veterans - guys like Tres Barrera, Trevor Gott, and Sergio Alcántara - all looking for one more shot. They’ve been around the block and bring a level of experience that can be valuable, even if they don’t crack the Opening Day roster.
Bottom Line: Every spring brings surprises, and the Nationals’ camp is full of possibilities. Morales, Bernabel, Mervis, and Martinez all have paths - however narrow - to making the team.
Whether it’s a breakout, a redemption arc, or a hometown story, the competition is wide open. And if history tells us anything, at least one of these NRIs could be wearing a Nats uniform when the lights come on in April.