Fresh Faces, Fresh Energy: Nationals Open Spring Training With a New Era Underway
Pitchers and catchers are officially reporting to Spring Training today at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, and if you're sensing a different kind of energy around the Washington Nationals, you're not wrong. This year’s camp isn’t just the start of another season-it’s the beginning of a full-scale reboot.
For the first time since the franchise moved from Montreal to D.C. in 2005, the Nationals are rolling into Spring Training with a brand-new leadership core across the board. Paul Toboni takes over as President of Baseball Operations, Blake Butera steps in as manager, Ani Kilambi assumes the GM role, and Jason Sinnarajah is the new President of Business Operations.
That’s a clean sweep of top-level decision-makers-all without an ownership change. It's rare, and it signals a franchise that's not just tweaking the edges, but reimagining its foundation.
And the urgency is already showing. Even before the official reporting date, pitchers were throwing live batting practice to hitters-an early sign that this group isn’t easing into anything. There’s a clear sense of purpose, and it starts with Toboni, who’s made it known that the Nationals aren’t done building.
A Busy Offseason-and Maybe More to Come
Washington’s front office didn’t just shuffle titles this winter. They got to work reshaping the roster.
The Nats pulled off three trades with real impact, made a Rule 5 Draft selection, grabbed several players off waivers, and signed one MLB free agent to a deal above the league minimum. And they might not be done.
Word is, the team is actively engaged in talks with free agent pitcher Miles Mikolas. It’s no secret Toboni has been pursuing major-league pitching for weeks. He’s said as much publicly-and his recent comments underscore that the Nationals still see room to add.
“By no means do we feel we're set going into West Palm,” Toboni said in a recent interview. “We're actively looking in that [pitching] market, and I think there's a chance we can sign a player here in the next week or two.”
29 Arms, 6 Catchers, and a Lot of Questions
As camp opens, the Nationals have 29 pitchers and six catchers reporting to West Palm Beach. Among them are a handful of rehabbing arms-DJ Herz, Jarlin Susana, Trevor Williams, and top pitching prospect Travis Sykora, who just had his first throwing session since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. For Sykora, it’s a major step forward in a long road back, and for the Nationals, it’s a reminder of the high-upside talent waiting in the wings.
But when it comes to the 2026 rotation, there’s still more mystery than clarity. Right now, Cade Cavalli, Foster Griffin, and Jake Irvin look like solid bets.
Beyond that? It’s wide open.
The bullpen picture isn’t much clearer. Brad Lord and Mitchell Parker could be in the mix for either the rotation or relief roles.
Clayton Beeter, Cole Henry, and Jackson Rutledge seem like locks to make the club in some capacity. Then there’s Griff McGarry, the Rule 5 pickup from Philadelphia.
He either makes the Opening Day roster or heads back to the Phillies-no in-between. That decision alone could shake up the bullpen structure.
Left-handers PJ Poulin and Richard Lovelady are also in the mix and could help round out a bullpen that’s still taking shape. If the Nats carry eight relievers, those final spots are going to be hotly contested over the next several weeks.
Catching Competition Heating Up
Behind the plate, things are just as unsettled. Keibert Ruiz remains the team’s highest-paid position player, but his role isn’t set in stone. The Nationals are deep at catcher, and there’s real competition brewing.
Harry Ford, the club’s top catching prospect, is in camp and could push the conversation forward faster than expected. Drew Millas is coming off a promising 2025 campaign-one that was only derailed by a broken hand late in the season.
Riley Adams is off the 40-man roster, but Tres Barrera is back in the fold as a depth option. And don’t forget Caleb Lomavita, the team’s second-highest rated catching prospect, who’s also in camp as a non-roster invitee.
He’s expected to start the year in the minors, but his presence adds another layer to an already crowded position group.
A Roster in Motion
All of this is happening before the Nationals have even made their next move-and that’s the thing. With Toboni still working the phones and looking to add, the current roster may not be the one that breaks camp. One signing or trade could shift the rotation, bullpen, or even the catching depth chart.
What’s clear is that this isn’t just another spring in West Palm. The Nationals are reshaping their identity, and they’re doing it with purpose. New leadership, new faces, and a new energy are taking center stage-and for the first time in a while, there’s a sense that real change is underway in D.C.
Spring Training is always about hope. But this year, for the Nationals, it feels like something more: a fresh start with a plan to build forward.