As spring training kicks off, there's a buzz around the Washington Nationals, but not for the reasons you might expect. While the spotlight often shines on the established stars, it's been the unsung heroes stepping up early in the season.
However, some of the big names like James Wood, Dylan Crews, and Daylen Lile have yet to find their groove. It's early days, and with limited playing time, it's tough for these players to hit their stride.
Expect them to ramp up as they get more consistent innings.
On the mound, the Nationals have shown flashes of promise, but familiar issues linger. Despite a focus on fundamentals this offseason, the defense has been shaky.
Things hit a rough patch during their 7-0 loss to the Yankees, where they committed three errors. Surprisingly, two of those were throwing errors from pitchers Andrew Alvarez and Clayton Beeter, highlighting a need for improvement in pitcher defense.
Offensively, it was a tough outing, managing just one hit and dropping their record to 4-1-1. Dylan Crews is still searching for his first hit, and while he's only had six at-bats, the strikeouts are something to watch. It's too soon to hit the panic button, but it's an area to keep an eye on.
A silver lining came from Christian Franklin, a 2025 trade deadline acquisition, who delivered the sole hit for the Nationals. Meanwhile, Ryan Weathers, a familiar face from his Marlins days, stifled the Nationals with 3.2 innings of one-hit ball, striking out five without issuing a walk. The lack of walks and offensive struggles brought back memories of last season's challenges.
The Nationals will look to regroup as they face the Phillies next. It's early, and there's plenty of baseball left to play, but they'll want to address these hiccups to ensure a smoother ride through spring training.