Washington Nationals: 5 Players Turning Heads Early at Spring Training
In the infancy of their spring training schedule, the Washington Nationals are doing exactly what everyone expects them to do: win.
Washington has notched three victories in three games so far all in comeback fashion, thanks to offensive contributions from prospects and consistency from veterans.
In the Nationals' second spring training contest, Tyler Moore broke a deadlock with a three-run triple that gave Washington the lead for good against the Atlanta Braves. The next day, a two-run single from Wilmer Difo essentially won the game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The sample size for any one pitcher is limited at this point, but vets like Jordan Zimmermann and Heath Bell have been productive against the handful of batters they've faced.
With about a month left to fine-tune one of the most potent machines in baseball, the Nationals are off to an encouraging start.
And these five players in particular are jumping off of box scores so far in spring training.
Tyler Moore
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Tyler Moore is playing like a man who's fighting for his professional life.
Mostly because he is.
Moore is locked in a battle for the final spot on Washington's bench come Opening Day. The 28-year-old is out of minor league options, so if he fails to crack the roster he'll probably end up on a different team. But if the season started today, he would have done enough to win the competition.
Washington has played in three spring training games so far, and Moore has been featured in two—only three Nationals have played in every contest, none of whom will crack the Opening Day roster.
In five at-bats spanning two games, Moore is batting .800 and leads the team in both hits (4) and RBI (6). He's also one of just two Nationals to hit a home run so far, along with Kila Ka'aihue.
It's roughly a month too early to hand the last roster spot to Moore just yet, but it's his compeition to lose right now.
Wilmer Difo
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Wilmer Difo isn't in the running for a spot on the Opening Day roster, but he is being counted on as a potential shortstop of the future once the Ian Desmond era ends in Washington.
The 22-year-old Dominican Republic native is the only National batting 1.000 so far, albeit in three at-bats. He has collected two RBI in his limited exposure, however—a number that puts him in a tie for third on the team.
As a potential everyday player down the line for Washington, Difo isn't exactly flying under the radar. Manager Matt Williams has taken notice of the youngster's production in the early goings.
"Difo, both sides of the plate, it's quick, it's repeatable, and he's got a good knowledge of the strike zone too, so all those are good things," Williams said, via The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes.
Heath Bell
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Heath Bell is a long shot to crack Washington's 25-man roster.
But he's done nothing to hurt his chances in spring training, however slim they are.
Speaking of slim, so is Heath Bell. The 37-year-old has struck out three batters in one inning of work this spring, but the most head-turning thing he's done so far is report to camp 40 pounds lighter.
According to a report from The Washington Post's James Wagner, the weight loss was primarily a cosmetic adjustment rather than an effort to correct his struggles on the mound. In fact, Bell has some concerns about how his lighter frame will affect his velocity.
What Bell is hoping for, however, is to earn the respect of his teammates.
"I wanted to come into camp and people say, 'He works his butt off,'" Bell said via Wagner. "I still need to get people out. It's just gonna make me look nicer."
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Ryan Zimmerman
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Ryan Zimmerman's bat has been familiarly productive in spring training. He has two hits in five at-bats and looks healthy.
But his work at the plate isn't under the microscope this spring. His transition over to first base is.
Following 10 years at third base for the Nationals, Zimmerman is now a first baseman after his degenerative shoulder forced him across the diamond.
The 30-year-old's athleticism looks to have made a comfortable transition over to first, and Zimmerman's play at his new position is drawing tentatively positive reviews from manager Matt Williams.
"He is still in the stages of having to think about it out there, because it's not natural yet," Williams said via MLB.com's Bill Ladson following Washington's spring training opener. "He looked fine. He has fantastic hands."
Jordan Zimmermann
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It's not wise to read too much into a starting pitcher's spring training debut good or bad. But until April 6, spring training games are all we've got.
Three-fifths of Washington's mega-rotation has taken the mound so far, and Jordan Zimmermann is the only one who has yet to allow a run. Zimmermann and Max Scherzer have turned in two innings apiece, while Stephen Strasburg has been featured in an inning and two-thirds.
All three have allowed at least one hit, but Zimmermann is the only member of the group who's given up just one. However, Scherzer and Strasburg have both earned two strikeouts while Zimmermann is still in search of his first K.
"Fastball command wasn't really there, but other than that I felt fine," Zimmermann said via The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes. "Threw a few changeups and couple curves and you know, pretty much what I expected in the first outing."
Jordan Zimmermann isn't getting overly worked up about his first spring training appearance, and neither should you. But it's clear neither he nor any of his rotation mates destroyed their mechanics during the offseason.
*All stats courtesy of MLB.com.
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.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
