RSS Nationals Team Notes

[Washington Nationals]

Nationals Prospects: Luke Dickerson had a down year, but hope is not lost yet

Overall, it has been a disappointing year for most of the players the Nationals selected in the 2024 draft. First round pick Seaver King’s struggles have been well documented thanks to the big names selected after him. However, I want to talk about the Nats second round pick, Luke Dickerson today.

Dickerson was not your average second round pick. He was actually the most expensive second rounder of all time, taking a $3.8 million signing bonus. The Nats built their draft strategy around spending big on Dickerson in the second round to buy him out of his UVA commitment. Seaver King was selected with an under slot deal so the Nationals could afford Dickerson. In a lot of ways, he was the real prize of the draft class. However, Dickerson did not have a great first season in pro ball.

It actually started very well though. He was quite good in the FCL, hitting .273 with a .794 OPS in 22 at bats. After just six games on the complex, the Nats had seen enough and thought he was ready for Low-A. Dickerson actually started off very well. Scouts were taking notice and people such as Keith Law and Kiley McDaniel had him as a top 100 prospect.

Keith Law on Luke Dickerson, his 48th ranked prospect in baseball pic.twitter.com/PtmsYciLat

— Paul Cubbage (@PaulCubbage23) May 29, 2025

McDaniel even compared his offensive game to Wyatt Langford due to his hard contact and strong approach. Dickerson looked like a new shining star in the Nats system. The organization was feeling vindicated in their decision to give him a ton of money.

However, things began to go off the rails for him. Some of this can be attributed to a mid-season hand injury, but he really struggled. For the season, Dickerson hit .204 with a .628 OPS in Low-A. Obviously those numbers are massively disappointing for a guy with so much hype.

Understandably, the buzz has died down and Dickerson is not on any top 100 lists these days. Having turned 20 in early August, Dickerson is also an older guy for his high school class. This turns the heat up even more.

However, there are some explanations for his struggles. Obviously the injury impacted him. He only missed a few games, but he was not right for a while after that. Dickerson was also a two sport athlete in high school, playing hockey at a pretty high level. That meant that he did not dedicate as much time to baseball as other high level prospects. It makes sense that he is a bit raw.

However, given the Nationals developmental track record, did it really make sense to go all in on a high schooler who is old for the class and has less reps than his peers. The Nats already have pretty big player development issues and with Seaver King and Dickerson, they drafted two pretty big projects.

However, there were some things to like with Dickerson that gave me hope. While the home run power did not show up a ton, only hitting 5 homers in Low-A, we saw some glimpses of it. His tools still give him a very high ceiling.

TWO GRAND SLAMS IN ONE INNING?!?!?!?!

IT'S LUKE DICKERSON'S TURN. pic.twitter.com/o2SGCBCTuc

— Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) August 19, 2025

Drafted as a shortstop, it does not look like he will stay at the position long term. That was always going to be a long shot, but with how many young shortstops the Nats have, he will be playing a lot of second base moving forward. When guys like Angel Feliz and Eli Willits showed up, he played a lot of second base. With a weaker arm, he is better suited for that position.

Second. Baseman. Luke. Dickerson. pic.twitter.com/hUohXBbuJ8

— Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) August 15, 2025

When you look at the underlying numbers, they really aren’t that bad. He struck out 25% of the time, which is high, but not untenable. Unlike a lot of Nats prospects, his plate discipline is strong. At the Low-A level, he walked 12.3% of the time, which is very solid. If he can start to raise the average or power, that plate discipline should raise his floor.

Dickerson did not hit the ball on the ground at a crazy clip either, with a 40.2 GB% in Low-A. One big problem he has right now is that he hits too many pop ups. Hopefully that is something that can be corrected this offseason. Those pop ups were why his BABIP was just .269.

I am not ready to give up on Luke Dickerson just yet. He still has big time talent, but he needs to be better next season. It will be interesting to see where he is assigned next season. He was far from dominant in Low-A, but he may have to start in High-A due to a glut of middle infielders. Dickerson, Eli Willits, Angel Feliz and Coy James will all need to play and this might force the Nats to start Dickerson in High-A.

Despite my faith in him, he needs to perform next season. The Nats built their 2024 class around him. With Seaver King’s struggles, Dickerson is going to have to step up. He has the talent, but eventually we will need to see some proof of concept.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...dickerson-had-down-year-but-hope-not-lost-yet

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Washington Nationals are in the midst of another long losing streak

When things go south for the 2025 Washington Nationals, they get really ugly. For the fifth time this season, the Washington Nationals have a losing streak of at least five games. I cannot remember a Nationals team where the lows are this low. When things go south, the Nats look like they will never win a game again.

This week has been one of those weeks that have become all too familiar for Nats fans this season. After playing solid baseball for a couple weeks, things have just totally imploded. The bullpen which was pitching well for a while can’t get an out anymore, the defense is schoolboy level and the offense is mostly quiet.

These patterns have defined the Nationals season. They play some decent baseball. Win two out of three for a couple series, maybe drop two out of three to a good team. However, they have these runs where the bottom just falls out. The 11 game losing streak in June, the 8 game losing streak to end August and now this losing streak in September. This team just cannot stop the bleeding.

I don't remember a stretch like this for the Nationals.

On their way to a 6th straight loss. Allowed 70 runs and 103 hits over a half-dozen games. (Multiple times yielding 16 runs and 24+ hits). They've also committed 8 errors in their last five games. pic.twitter.com/9vncPPGkwk

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) August 6, 2025

The crazy thing is that it is all aspects of play that just totally fall apart. These runs have no bright spots. Outside of CJ Abrams and yet another Daylen Lile triple, there was not much to cling onto last night. Last night, the Nats committed three errors, all in the outfield. Stuff like this is why I called this the most embarrassing Nationals team.

The 2025 Nationals are the most embarrassing team in franchise history https://t.co/SGLL3L2gUJ

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) August 31, 2025

Outside of these crazy losing runs, the Nationals actually show some good things from time to time. This September is a great example of this Nationals cycle. The Nats actually started this month very well. Before this losing streak, the Nationals actually started the month with a 9-4 record. They looked very bright in the series against the Marlins and Cubs to start the month.

Before this losing streak, the Nats actually won a series against the Pirates. The bullpen was locking games down with Clayton Beeter and Jose A. Ferrer at the back of the pen. However, that bullpen has totally capitulated in this losing streak.

When the Nats are losing by a run or two, the bullpen has real trouble stopping the bleeding. When you have to rely on pitchers like Mason Thompson and Shinnosuke Ogasawara to stop the bleeding, the blood will keep gushing. Lately, the bullpen has done a decent job keeping leads when they have them, but they can’t stop one run deficits from becoming five run deficits.

The Nationals have to improve a lot of things next season, but stopping the bleeding is one of them. If the Nats are not going to sweep teams, they cannot fall into these long dry spells.

These ugly runs make sense for a team that is so young, but it is also a sign of a team that lacks leadership. Where are the veterans trying to steady the ship when things get so ugly. This ugliness is why the Nationals are going to have their worst record since 2022.

2025 has been a disastrous season for the Washington Nationals. Having five losing streaks of at least five games is a recipe for failure. The next Washington Nationals manager has a lot of big tasks ahead of them, but stopping these ugly runs needs to be near the top of the list.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...re-in-the-midst-of-another-long-losing-streak

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs New York Mets Game Thread

After a pitching and defense meltdown last night, the Nationals lost their 5th straight game. Now they will look to get back on track and put a dent in the Mets playoff hopes. To do that, the Nationals will need to play much cleaner baseball.

The Nats are making a few changes at the bottom of their lineup. Robert Hassell will play center field and hit fifth, which is higher in the lineup than usual for him. Riley Adams will catch this afternoon. After sitting yesterday, Brady House is back at third base. The struggling Luis Garcia Jr. will be on the bench as Nasim Nunez plays second base. Cade Cavalli will be on the mound.

one hundred fifty five. pic.twitter.com/efB1wbdeWk

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 20, 2025

The Mets are only making two changes to the lineup. Cedric Mullins will be in for Jose Siri after Siri had a brutal game last night. Jeff McNeil will be at second base. The Mets have their new ace Nolan McLean on the mound. McLean has only made 6 MLB starts, but he has been insanely impressive. His pitches have some of the craziest movement you will ever see.

City Connect Saturday! #LGM pic.twitter.com/5AN9OoYk3A

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 20, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Citi Field

Time: 4:10 PM EST

TV: MASN 2 and MLB Network (out of market)

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

The Nationals need to snap out of their week-long malaise. It would feel like a fitting end of the season if the Nats lost the rest of their games to get to 100 losses. However, these guys cannot let that happen. Let’s stop the slide right here, right now. Let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ington-nationals-vs-new-york-mets-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs New York Mets Game Thread

After a thrilling win last night, the Nationals look to win the series this afternoon at Citi Field. The Mets are fighting for their playoff lives and desperately need a win today with the Reds only a game behind them. Meanwhile, the Nationals would love to spoil their rivals’ playoff dreams.

After jamming his shoulder on a slide last night, CJ Abrams is out of the lineup, but available off the bench. Nasim Nunez will replace him at shortstop. James Wood will continue to lead off and Dylan Crews will move into the 2 hole. With a lefty on the mound, Paul DeJong will play second base. Jacob Young will man centerfield and Jorge Alfaro will do the catching. The struggling Jake Irvin will be on the mound.

one hundred fifty six. pic.twitter.com/8p7FOaeoPU

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 21, 2025

The Mets will be making a couple changes themselves. Mark Vientos will be in the lineup at DH. Luis Torrens will do the catching this afternoon. Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso will switch places in the lineup, with Alonso moving to the cleanup spot. The top two of Lindor and Soto are unchanged. Sean Manaea will start for the Mets.

Homestand finale. #LGM pic.twitter.com/phm4yh9IhK

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 21, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Citi Field

Time: 1:40 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

Nationals fans would love nothing more than to ruin the Mets playoff chances. It would be a fun way to end a pretty miserable season. Today the Nats have a chance to make their mark in the playoff race. Follow along and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ington-nationals-vs-new-york-mets-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Jacob Young and the Washington Nationals stun a New York Mets squad fighting for their playoff lives

After Luis Torrens lined out to end the game, New York Mets fans booed. However, anger was not the emotion that rang out from the Citi Field crowd. Instead, Mets fans were in a state of shock. Somehow, someway, they had just lost two out of three to a Nationals team that has been absolutely hopeless all season.

The Mets are fighting for their playoff lives, but they could not get the job done against a 64-92 Nationals team. If the Mets finish off their epic collapse and miss the playoffs, this will surely be the series their fans look back on. On paper, the Mets absolutely outclass the Nationals, but the games are not played on paper.

The situation grew bleak for the Mets early in the ballgame. In the top of the second, Sean Manaea got into trouble and could not wriggle his way out. As you would expect, Daylen Lile was the man who started things off with a base hit.

After a Paul DeJong fly out, journeyman backup catcher Jorge Alfaro delivered the first blow of the contest. He ripped a ball off the wall in left field, which should have set up a second and third situation. However, Francisco Lindor made a bad throw into second base which allowed Lile to score on the play.

It was a 1-0 game and the Nats were still threatening. They would get a big boost from an unexpected source. With two outs, the light hitting Nasim Nunez launched a homer out to left field to make it a 3-0 ball game. Citi Field was stunned and the Mets knew they had a fight on their hands.

Nasim Nuñez goes yard to make it a 3-run inning for the @Nationals pic.twitter.com/CDzq4eMJsF

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2025

However, the Mets offense was unable to muster much. They scored one run in the third inning on a strange play where Daylen Lile got hurt and the ball was just sitting in the corner. With Lile down, a somewhat confused Luis Torrens jogged home.

Besides that, Jake Irvin was really sharp in his first five innings. The velocity was up today for Irvin which helped him out. For most of the afternoon, Irvin was sitting between 93-95 on his fastball. With this new found gas in the tank, Irvin had his best start in a while.

However, he was helped out massively by his center fielder in the fifth inning. Jacob Young made one of the craziest, most creative catches you will ever see to rob Brett Baty. He went back to the wall and got his glove on the ball, but the ball popped out of his glove. In a feat of insane coordination, Young used his foot to kick the ball up back into his glove to make a surreal catch.

JACOB YOUNG OH MY GOODNESS! pic.twitter.com/bHaSqV0d29

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2025

After a Francisco Lindor homer in the sixth, it was a 3-2 game that was on a knife’s edge. Miguel Cairo sent out an interesting man to walk the tightrope. That would be Mitchell Parker. This was Parker’s first relief appearance after being booted from the rotation for poor performance.

He made this first outing a special one. Parker came in with two on and one out in the sixth. However, he managed to get out of trouble, forcing a pop up from Jeff McNeil and striking out Mark Vientos.

In the next few innings, the Nats would get players into scoring position time after time, but they could not add to the lead. This game was right there for the Mets to grab. An ineffective starter was trying to get a 3.2 inning save and his offense did not provide him any insurance.

However, the Mets simply would not grab the game. Mitchell Parker was putting up zeroes inning after inning. When he came out for the ninth, there was a pit in my stomach. This game did not mean anything for the Nats, but all Nats fans desperately wanted to put a wrench in the Mets playoff ambitions.

In the bottom of the 9th, Jacob Young delivered again with another outstanding catch. This one was more conventional, but still absolutely stunning. The ball was flying out of the yard, so Young had to get to the wall quickly and time his jump perfectly. He did just that and robbed Francisco Alvarez.

JACOB YOUNG JUST DID IT AGAIN!!! pic.twitter.com/53rnITzHas

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2025

These are the kinds of games that get the fans going. High stakes games where you can really make a mark on a team’s season. It makes me miss the days when we were playing in these high stakes games down the stretch, rather than just being a spoiler. Hopefully we will be back before too long.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ew-york-mets-squad-fighting-for-playoff-lives

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Game Thread

After a dramatic series win in New York, the Nats hit the road one last time as they head to Atlanta. The Braves are red hot, winners of 8 in a row. Unfortunately for them, they got hot too late. If they made a move a few weeks earlier, they could have been in the Wild Card mix.

Miguel Cairo is putting out an unusual lineup. With the all time strikeout record in sight, the Nats are benching James Wood with Chris Sale on the mound for the Braves. CJ Abrams is back after missing a game with a jammed shoulder, but as the DH. Nasim Nunez is leading off and playing shortstop. While Daylen Lile avoided serious injury, he is not ready to go back in the lineup after an injury scare yesterday. MacKenzie Gore is on the mound.

one hundred fifty seven. pic.twitter.com/Zu2XPLT7pf

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 22, 2025

The Braves top 3 of Profar, Olson and Acuna ran riot in DC last week. They will look to do that again. Rookie of the Year candidate Drake Baldwin is behind the plate. With Austin Riley still hurt, Nacho Alvarez will play third base. The Braves ace, Chris Sale will take the mound tonight in Atlanta.

Back home and going for 9 in a row! #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/z0MSFDEtXG

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 22, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Truist Park

Time: 7:15 PM EST

TV: MASN and MLB Network (out of market)

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

The Nats made their mark on the playoff race with a shocking series win in Queens. Now they will look to finish their season strong. There are only two more series left. It was a difficult season, but I will miss Nats baseball. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ngton-nationals-vs-atlanta-braves-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Brad Ciolek leaves the Washington Nationals as front office shake up continues

As the Nationals prepare for life without Mike Rizzo, some of the remnants of the old regime are leaving. A few weeks after Danny Haas left his post as Scouting Director, there will be another shakeup in the draft room. According to reports, the Nats Director of Amateur Scouting Brad Ciolek is leaving the club to join the Tigers.

Source tells us Brad Ciolek, the #Nats senior director of amateur scouting is leaving for the Detroit Tigers.

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) September 22, 2025

This is a big move in the front office because Ciolek had a lot of power in the draft process. Ciolek and Danny Haas were brought in after the 2023 season to fix the Nationals drafting woes. Coming from the Orioles, Ciolek came in with big expectations.

Many fans viewed the fresh faced Ciolek as a modernizer who could help Mike Rizzo nail the draft. In the end, Ciolek and Haas only had two drafts, where the results were mixed. The early returns on the 2024 Draft have not been good.

Ciolek and Haas decided to cut a deal with Seaver King at 10th overall to save money and get more talent down the board. So far, King has been very disappointing and the Nats passed on players who have turned into big time prospects such as Trey Yesavage, Bryce Rainer and Cam Smith.

The picks down the board have not made up for things either. Luke Dickerson and Caleb Lomavita were high upside picks, but neither have taken off yet. The Nats made Dickerson the most expensive second round pick ever, but he struggled in his first pro season.

The early returns on the 2025 class have been stronger. While Eli Willits needs to add more strength, he looks like a strong pick at number 1 in what was a weaker class. Ethan Petry also hit well in Low-A. It will take more time to evaluate the 2025 class because it was so high school heavy. However, it looks better than Haas and Ciolek’s first class.

With this news, the next Nationals GM will have to overhaul the draft room. The two top guys are now gone. However, there are some folks staying around. There was another report that said Reed Dunn, the Assistant Director of Scouting is staying, at least for now.

Source tells us that Reed Dunn who is the #Nats Assistant Director of Scouting is staying with the team as will others in the department.

Obviously, whoever is named GM will have the final decision going forward. Dunn was with the Nats from 2007 to 2014 before returning in 2023… https://t.co/V2q78Jk534

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) September 22, 2025

The next GM might want to keep him around. Dunn knows the organization well and has a long track record. Since he is a hold over guy, he is unlikely to be staying for the long haul, but it would not hurt to keep him around for another year or two.

When Haas and Ciolek were brought in, the idea was to give them major power in the draft room, while letting Mike Rizzo play to his strengths. In the end, the plan did not work. Two years after they were hired, both Haas and Ciolek are gone. Rizzo is also gone, following regression on the field and stagnation on the farm.

It is time for a new GM to come in with his own ideas and reshape the front office. Half measures are not good enough. A major break from the old regime is needed to get things back on track. Hopefully this news means the team will be hiring a GM from outside the organization.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/lat...ton-nationals-front-office-shake-up-continues

 

[Washington Nationals]

How will the introduction of the ABS challenge system impact the Washington Nationals

The MLB announced a seismic change to the way the sport will be officiated. In 2026, Major League Baseball will implement the ABS challenge system. It has felt like the wind has been blowing in this direction for quite some time, but today the MLB officially announced it. In a tweet, they explained the finer details of the rule.

BREAKING: Major League Baseball will use the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) during the entire 2026 season

ABS CHALLENGE RULES:

– Each team will get two challenges and can keep them if they're successful

– Challenges can only be initiated by a pitcher, catcher, or… pic.twitter.com/xHkRIbHrRx

— MLB (@MLB) September 23, 2025

The biggest part for me is that teams have two challenges per game. If the player is correct, the team gets to keep the challenge. However, they are not allowed to get any help. It will solely be on the player to identify what they think balls and strikes are.

This really changes the game and will impact different players in different ways. The most identifiable way the game will change is the value of framing. MLB is not moving to a fully automated system, so framing will still have some value. Sometimes a catcher can trick both the umpire and the batter.

However, framing’s importance will be reduced. Players will be able to challenge the truly egregious calls. That means framing specialists like Patrick Bailey or Austin Hedges could be in trouble.

If we are going off of recent history, the implementation of ABS is very good news for the Washington Nationals. This season, the Nats have been the worst framing team in all of baseball, with -18 catcher framing runs.

The Nats framing woes are not a one year problem either. Since statcast started tracking framing runs in 2018, the Nats are by far the worst team in the league. They have amassed a staggering -97 framing runs since 2018. For context, the next worst team is the Orioles at -65. The Yankees and Giants have been the best framing teams, with 82 and 79 framing runs added.

So this rule change could really help the Nats win a few extra games on the margins. The Nats have never really prioritized catcher defense much, at least in the Mike Rizzo era. Yan Gomes was the only real plus defender behind the plate the Nats had over the past decade or so.

If Keibert Ruiz can get back to health and find some life with the bat, this rule could really benefit him. He was just leaking value due to having some of the worst framing skills in the league. Of course, framing still matters, but it will not matter as much next season and beyond.

I am interested to see what kinds of strategies will be used with this challenge system. Will managers tell their players to wait until later in games or when runners are on base to use the challenges? Will some players have a greener light to challenge than others?

MLB front offices and managers will be thinking about this all offseason as they prepare for life with ABS. I actually really like the challenge system as a compromise. It helps get more calls right, while also leaving a human element.

The new strategies it will create also interest me greatly. If you are a baseball fan, you should be excited for this. We saw in Spring Training that these checks don’t take too long either. Baseball just changed forever today. I think the change is a positive one and one that could help the Nats win a couple more games.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/lat...-challenge-system-impact-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Game Thread

The Braves are red hot right now and have been running through the Nats each time they have played in the past week or so. Now, the Nats will try to fight back and finally get a win over the Braves. With the season wrapping up, getting a win over a divisional foe would feel good.

The Nats lineup cannot be described as anything other than odd. Luis Garcia Jr. is playing first base for the first time in his career. CJ Abrams is in the 3 hole tonight, with Nasim Nunez leading off. Nunez has been red hot lately. Daylen Lile is back in the fold after missing yesterday due to injury. Brad Lord will get the start for the Nats as he looks to put a bow on a solid rookie year.

one hundred fifty eight. pic.twitter.com/yYkLwp1Ia6

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 23, 2025

The Braves have a much more conventional lineup. They are only making one personnel change and it is a forced change. Ozzie Albies got hurt last night, so his season is over. That means Brett Wisely will start at second base for the Braves. Otherwise, the same cast of characters are in the lineup. Hurston Waldrep will get the start tonight in Atlanta.

Tuesday night at @TruistPark!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/2EE4lUpi5m

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 23, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Truist Park

Time: 7:15 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

This game is spiced up by Luis Garcia Jr’s debut at first base. Daylen Lile being back in the lineup is also a big positive. He is the best player on the team right now. Hopefully the Nats can slow down the red hot Braves. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ngton-nationals-vs-atlanta-braves-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals hire Red Sox Paul Toboni as President of Baseball Operations

Just as James Wood hit his 30th home run of the season, an even bigger bombshell has come. Jeff Passan has reported that the Nationals are finalizing a deal to hire Paul Toboni of the Red Sox to be the team’s new President of Baseball Operations.

BREAKING: The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to name Paul Toboni their new head of baseball operations, sources tell ESPN. Toboni, 35, rose rapidly to become assistant GM for the Boston Red Sox and is widely regarded as one of the best young executives in MLB.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 24, 2025

At just 35 years old, Toboni brings a fresh set of eyes to the Washington Nationals organization. Despite his tender age, Toboni has been working for the Red Sox for a decade now.

In that time, Toboni rose from an intern to a Senior Vice President for one of the most successful organizations in baseball. The Red Sox have a history of producing great GM talent over the years. From Theo Epstein to Jed Hoyer, the Red Sox have been a breeding ground for bright baseball minds.

The Nats seem to think that Toboni is next in line. The 35 year old has big shoes to fill. Mike Rizzo ran this team for 15 years and won a World Series. Now, it will be Toboni’s turn to try to bring winning baseball to DC.

According to Passan, Toboni is very highly regarded in the industry and is seen as an up and coming mind. After the end of the Mike Rizzo era, it is refreshing to see the Nats go in a younger direction. While the Rizzo era reached incredible heights, things stagnated at the end.

Toboni has a big task in front of him. He will have to modernize the organization while dealing with a difficult ownership group. However, he clearly backs himself to do that. While it is going to be a tough job, there are some things to build around with the Nats.

The young outfield of James Wood, Dylan Crews and Daylen Lile is a very good foundation to build on. Toboni will have to decide on the futures of players like CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore.

Toboni has done a great job building up the Red Sox young core and he has the chance to do the same here in DC. This is an exciting day for Nationals fans. The team has decided that it is time to fully commit to a new direction and that is very exciting.

For a Nationals team in need of a serious infusion of talent, it's worth noting Paul Toboni ran the draft for Boston when it chose Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, Payton Tolle, Connelly Early and the prospects who went to Chicago in the Garrett Crochet deal.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 24, 2025

As more details come out, Federal Baseball will keep you guys updated. But it looks like the Washington Nationals have found the man to replace Mike Rizzo.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ul-toboni-as-president-of-baseball-operations

 

[Washington Nationals]

What September Numbers Can Tell Us About The Outlook of the 2026 Washington Nationals

As the 2025 MLB season winds down for fans of MLB teams well outside of playoff contention, it can be easy to forget about the results on the field for these final games, as it’s more about enjoying watching the club before they go on hiatus for 5 months. What you may not know, however, is that the club’s performance over this final month can actually provide us with critical insight into the team’s future, specifically for the 2026 season.

I took the wRC+ and FIP- from September of every Nationals club (2005-2024) and compared it to the full-season wRC+ and FIP- of every Nats club (2006-2025) in order to better understand how the performance at the end of one year translated onto the field in the next year. Starting with the offensive side of the ball, the results were rather unsurprising, with bad Septembers often leading to bad full seasons the following year (Often times from the 2020s Nationals clubs, who offenses have been bad most years) and good Septembers often leading into good full seasons the following year (Often times from the late 2010s Nationals club, who’s offenses have been good most years).

The most interesting part of the data, and the most relevant to the Nationals currently, is the difficulty of predicting the following year’s wRC+ when an offense is bad in the September prior, as sometimes they can come back the next year looking great, and sometimes they can look really bad. Take, for example, the 2018 Nationals offense, which finished September 2017 with an 83 wRC+ (the 4th worst offensive September in Nats history), and bounced back with a strong 101 wRC+ that next year. There is also the 2025 Washington Nationals, who finished September 2024 with an 82 wRC+ and currently possess an 85 wRC+ as a club in 2025. While the majority of the time the bad September offenses will be bad the following season, there are also times when they break out in a big way.

The pitching numbers, however, paint a much clearer picture. September FIP- is a strong indicator of FIP- the following season, often being right on the money about how a staff will look the next season. The good September staff tend to remain strong the following year, and the bad September staff tend to be pretty bad again the following year. The most interesting part, and, again, the most relevant for the Nats currently, is that past Nats clubs that have had similar September performances to the 2025 Nationals staff have often been much improved the following season. Of the 4 past Nats teams to be within 3 points of the 2025 September Nats FIP- of 110, 2 of them went on to be league average or better pitching staffs the following year, with another improving by multiple points to be close to league average, and just one staff regressing.

So, where does that leave the 2026 Washington Nationals? With an 85 wRC+ and a 110 FIP-, they sit in muddy waters in terms of the Nationals teams they sit around, but that doesn’t mean hope is lost. Offensively, most Nats clubs with bad Septembers tend to have poor offenses the following season, but that isn’t always the case, as some offenses are able to find their groove, such as the 2018 Nats. The Nationals’ lineup seems likely to add 1-2 pieces entering 2026, and when accounting for growth from a majority of the youngsters on the ballclub, I would be willing to bet the 2026 Nats lineup will be one that improves, not stays stagnant or regresses compared to the September priors numbers.

On the pitching side, there are some signs of improved fortunes for the Nationals entering 2026, as the combination of historical trends, free agent acquisitions, and a new coaching staff all point towards next season’s pitching staff being a much stronger unit than this year’s. The key for the club going forward needs to be building pitching depth so that when current rotation members, such as Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker, fall short of expectations, there is a viable option to replace them instead of being forced to use them every 5 days and hoping they can turn it around.

Overall, while September numbers certainly don’t define who the Nationals are going to be the following year, they can offer us insight into who they could become based on past trends. If the Nationals have playoff aspirations in 2026, the best way they can do that is by following the trend of an improving staff after a middling September, and becoming an outlier among offenses with weak Septembers. With how much change is coming soon to the ballclub, both on the field and off, anything is possible.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...us-about-outlook-of-2026-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

James Wood becomes the first Washington National to hit 30 homers since 2019 and does it in style

It was lost in the shuffle after the Paul Toboni hire was reported, but James Wood hit a major milestone yesterday. With a two home run game, Wood reached 30 home runs on the season. His pursuit of 30 bombs may have ground to a halt in the second half, but eventually he got there.

James Wood reaches the 30-HR mark in his first full season! https://t.co/Da5vgdaaQr pic.twitter.com/mXsnovcZTh

— MLB (@MLB) September 24, 2025

A lot has been written about Wood’s second half struggles and rightly so. It has been a tough run for the 23 year old. The strikeout rate has ballooned to 38.7% for the second half and 31.8% for the season. He is also within striking distance of the all-time single season strikeout record, though a couple strikeout free games have given him some wiggle room.

However, it has still been a successful season for the young outfielder. Sure, he could not keep up the insane pace he set in the first half, but the final results are solid. If you told me before the season that Wood would hit 30 home runs, 92 RBI’s and post an .827 OPS, I would take it. Sure, the path to getting there has been very frustrating at times, but he got there.

As you would expect from Wood, the two homers were both majestic shots. Both homers were mammoth shots to center field. When he is at his best, James Wood can really make a ball park look small.

James Wood demolished this baseball 445 feet pic.twitter.com/X6oTwcJsim

— MLB (@MLB) September 24, 2025

With a strong finish to the season, Wood is leaving a good final impression after struggling for many months. That will make fans feel much better about the youngster the team plans to build around. There is still plenty of development for James Wood to do, but he has all the tools and has already shown he can produce to a high level.

2026 will be all about consistency for Wood. We have seen the flashes, but can he do it over a full season? I think that Paul Toboni and the player development staff he brings in will help Wood do that.

After homering the other day, Wood talked about how he had been opening up too soon and not finishing his swing. He has made the adjustment and it seems to be working. My question is why did it take about three months to make that adjustment? What had Wood and the staff been working on previously? Let’s just say, I think the next hitting coach will be quicker in figuring this kind of stuff out.

After homering last night, James Wood said he felt like he's been opening up too early and wanted to finish his swing (especially on breaking pitches).

He just launched his 30th homer to dead center on a slider over the heart of the plate. I'd say his adjustments are working.

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) September 24, 2025

Stuff like this is why Nats fans are so frustrated with the current coaching staff. Sure, they found the adjustment eventually, but why did it take three months to make a seemingly simple tweak? Thankfully, Darnell Coles will only be hitting coach for three more games.

On a more positive note, Wood joined some illustrious company with his 30 homer season. This says more about the state of the team than anything, but Wood’s 30 homer campaign was the Nats first 30 homer season since 2019. That year, Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto both got over 30 bombs.

James Wood also joined Alfonso Soriano as the only Nats players to have 30 homers and 15 steals in a season. Of course, Soriano went 40/40, but this is still an elite club to be a part of.

With his 29th and 30th home runs today, James Wood joins Alfonso Soriano as the only Nationals (2005-pres.) to hit 30 home runs and steal 15 bases in a season.

— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) September 24, 2025

So what is next for James Wood? Ideally, he finds a way to get that strikeout rate down below 30% next year. With his long levers, there will always be swing and miss in his game, but there is still room for improvement. I would also like to see Wood be more aggressive in the zone. Too often, he stares at pitches down the middle.

He has some pretty serious holes in his game. That makes what he is able to do even more impressive. Wood is quite flawed as a hitter, but he has so much raw power and natural ability that he can put up big numbers anyway.

I am excited to see what is next for James Wood, especially now that a new regime is coming in and will put a better support system around him. The sky is the limit for the young outfielder, but Wood still has some things to figure out. For now, let’s just celebrate the 30 homer season from our young star.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...nal-hit-30-homers-since-2019-does-it-in-style

 

[Washington Nationals]

Alex Clemmey is the Federal Baseball Washington Nationals prospect of the year

It was a difficult year for the Washington Nationals farm system, much like it was for the MLB team. A lot of the top names in the Nationals system either struggled or got hurt. That made finding a standout prospect a bit tricky, but one name stood out. After all, there is a reason Baseball America gave the Nats farm a C- for the season.

However, left handed pitcher Alex Clemmey was the standout performer in the Nationals system. The combination of Clemmey’s youth, performance, stuff and resilience made him my pick for Washington Nationals prospect of the year. Clemmey just beat out Jake Bennett for the honor in my eyes. While Bennett had a lower ERA, Clemmey threw more than 40 more innings and was one of the youngest pitchers at each of the two levels he pitched in. Baseball America agreed, also making Clemmey the Nats prospect of the year.

Per Instagram, Middletown native and @HendrickenHawks alum Alex Clemmey has been named Baseball America’s Nationals Minor League Player of the Year.

He went 7-5 with a 3.47 ERA in 2025. We could see him in the big leagues soon. @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/kqXrEIsDQp

— Sam Knox (@SamKnoxTV) September 25, 2025

For the season, Clemmey put up impressive numbers. In 116.2 innings, he posted a 3.47 ERA with 136 strikeouts and a .208 batting average against. Clemmey was particularly dominant in High-A, where he made 19 of his 25 starts. In those 19 starts, he posted a 2.47 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 87.1 innings. He did most of that as a 19 year old pitcher.

Clemmey’s first three starts in Double-A were very challenging and inflated his ERA. He learned that he could not get away with as much at the new level. However, the youngster adjusted and it worked. In Clemmey’s last 3 starts of the season, he went 17.2 innings and only allowed four runs. The kid got taught a lesson in Double-A, but he figured out how to adapt.

Alex Clemmey turned in his best start (6.0 IP, H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) with @HbgSenators last night.

After a leadoff homer in the 2nd inning, he settled in and retired 15 out of the final 16 hitters he faced. pic.twitter.com/Lu2Iwm86Rz

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) September 4, 2025

Alex Clemmey’s success comes from his stuff and deception. At 6’6 and left handed, Clemmey creates weird angles for hitters. His stuff is hard to pick up. The fastball comes in anywhere from 93-96 MPH, but he can reach back for more if he really needs it. This year, Clemmey is throwing both a four-seamer and a sinker. His two fastballs make him less predictable.

Clemmey’s sweeping slider is also a plus pitch. It has big time movement and can be a big whiff generator for him. Another big development this season has been Clemmey’s changeup. It was not much of a weapon before, but he has gotten more comfortable using it. The changeup is a clear third pitch, but hitters need to pay attention to it now.

Alex Clemmey, LHP, Washington Nationals
After walking the first 2 batters of the game, Clemmey settled in nicely, pitching into the 6th and striking out 5 while allowing just 1 ER.
FB: 95-96 early, 93-94 later(but commanded better)
SW: 82-85
CH: 86-88 pic.twitter.com/IP53pQO7Rr

— Chris Clegg (@ChrisCleggMiLB) June 16, 2025

For Clemmey to take the next step, he needs to throw more strikes. The walks have been Clemmey’s achilles heel. It was the reason the Guardians were willing to move on from him to acquire Lane Thomas. For the season, Clemmey walked 5.63 batters per 9 innings. That is simply too high for a starting pitcher.

If Clemmey’s control stagnates, a move to the bullpen would become necessary. As we have seen with Clayton Beeter, you can have success in the ‘pen with poor control. If the stuff is electric, you can get the job done with scattershot control in short bursts. However, there is still hope for Clemmey as a starter.

His strike throwing actually improved when he got to Double-A. The walk rate went from 6.18 BB/9 to 3.99 BB/9. However, his strikeout rate also went way down after his promotion. Clemmey also had a big home run problem in AA, allowing 8 in 29.1 innings. However, 4 of those came in his first start at the level.

Before his promotion, home runs had never been an issue. Clemmey had only allowed 8 homers his entire Minor League career before he got to Harrisburg. That makes me think that this was just a blip on the radar and that Clemmey will go back to limiting the long ball next season.

It is important to remember just how young Clemmey is. Despite being in the same high school class as Travis Sykora, Clemmey is over a year younger than him. He turned 20 on July 18th. This is very important to consider when talking about him.

There is still a lot of runway for improvement here. He was one of, if not the youngest pitcher at each level. 20 year old pitchers are not supposed to be in AA. Clemmey has already made it there and will start next year at the level while still being 20.

At this pace, Clemmey could be in the big leagues as a 21 year old. That is awfully impressive for a former second round pick who was seen as a raw project at the time of the draft.

Mike Rizzo made a lot of mistakes over the past few years, but picking up Clemmey and more for Lane Thomas was a great move. Given Thomas’ playoff heroics last year, I doubt Guardians fans are overly upset about the move right now, but it could become a huge win for the Nats.

If everything comes together for Clemmey, he could be a mid rotation arm or a lights out high leverage relief pitcher. Control is the big difference maker here. However, Clemmey needs to find a way to add the control without losing too much of the deception that makes him special.

Effectively wild is a good way to define Alex Clemmey. If everything goes right here, you could be looking at a Gio Gonzalez style starter, who can frustrate but gets the job done more often than not. It was not the best year for the Nats farm, but seeing Alex Clemmey take big steps in his development is something that should encourage all Nats fans.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...aseball-washington-nationals-prospect-of-year

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals Close Season with Final Series Against Chicago White Sox

When two of the worst teams play each other at the end of the season, it is tough as a fan to get excited. The Washington Nationals and the Chicago White Sox are two of the worst teams in baseball, ranking near the bottom in every statistical category. For both sides, these teams are filled with young talent. However, they are many pieces away from being true contenders.

The Chicago White Sox are coming off a season where they finished with the worst record in MLB history. They improved in 2025, having the potential to win 60 games. Chicago is years away from becoming a true contender, but the rebuild is on the right path. With young stars such as Colson Montgomery and Kyle Teel, this marks the first time since 2021 that the Chicago White Sox have a promising foundation.

With the 2025 season coming to an end, here is the last series preview, and it just so happens to be between the two worst teams in baseball.

Let’s dive into the Chicago White Sox’s 2025 season.

TEAM STATS

OFFENSE

As expected, the offense has been underwhelming once again. Surprisingly, Luis Robert Jr. remains in Chicago after a brutal start to the season, tanking any value he had along with his hefty contract. However, with some mid-season callups, this team is starting to build its foundation. With Colson Montgomery (.800 OPS) and Kyle Teel (.801 OPS) joining the team mid-season, they have provided a jolt, and we saw the Chicago White Sox play competitive baseball in the second half of the season. As a team, however, they rank near the bottom in almost every statistical category. They are batting .232 (27th), scored 621 runs (28th), hit 157 runs (23rd), have an on-base percentage of .301 (27th), and a slugging percentage of .371 (29th).

PITCHING

Along with the offense, this unit disappointed as expected. With a mostly unknown rotation as well as an uninspiring bullpen, this team was doomed before the season even started. However, there are some bright spots within the rotation. Shane Smith made his first All-Star game as a rookie, and Sean Burke has looked solid during stretches of this season. These two could be long-term arms while other prospects are making their way into the big leagues. As a team, they have a 4.25 ERA (21st), allowed 180 home runs (14th), 1.37 WHIP (27th), and teams are batting .248 against them (20th).

GAME ONE – Friday, 6:45 EDT

WAS: RHP Cade Cavalli (3-1) – 9 G, 4.23 ERA, 34 SO, 1.43 WHIP, 98 ERA+

CWS: RHP Yoendrys Gomez (3-3) *CWS Stats* – 11 G (8 GS), 4.46 ERA, 42 SO, 1.25 WHIP, 94 ERA+

Cavalli has thrown in just nine games this season, and after missing the past two and a half years, Cavalli has looked solid. After giving up seven earned runs against the New York Yankees on August 27, Cavalli has strung together four consecutive quality starts. His last start was stellar, throwing five innings and allowing zero runs on five hits in a victory against the New York Mets.

Yoendrys Gomez has bounced around the league this season, making appearances for three different teams. After spending the past two seasons with the Yankees, Gomez was scooped up by the Los Angeles Dodgers for just three games before making his way to the Windy City. Overall, for the 2025 season, Gomez has a 4.92 ERA in twenty games, eight of them being starts. In his last start, he threw a quality start, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits in a loss against the San Diego Padres.

GAME TWO – Saturday, 4:05 EDT

WAS: RHP Jake Irvin (9-13) – 32 G, 5.69 ERA, 118 SO, 1.44 WHIP, 72 ERA+

CWS: RHP Sean Burke (4-11) – 27 G (22 GS), 4.29 ERA, 123 SO, 1.47 WHIP, 98 ERA+

Jake Irvin has been the No.2 behind MacKenzie Gore, and he has eaten innings all season long. Even though the production has gone down compared to last season, the ability to stay on the field and throw every fifth day shows signs of a pitcher with a long future in the MLB. He threw well in his last start, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing just two runs on six hits in a win against the New York Mets.

Burke threw for the first time in the majors in 2024, and in just four games, he ended the season 2-0 with a 1.43 ERA. Succeeding in that short time span earned Burke an opportunity to start every fifth day for the Chicago White Sox, and the decision has not backfired. The numbers have regressed, but in twenty-two starts, Burke has a 4.29 ERA and an ERA+ of 98, making his season around average. In his last start, Burke threw a decent game, tossing four innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits in a loss to the San Diego Padres.

GAME THREE – Sunday, 3:05 EDT

WAS: TBD

CWS: RHP Shane Smith (6-8) – 28 G, 3.98 ERA, 137 SO, 1.24 WHIP, 105 ERA+

In just his rookie season, Shane Smith has become a star out of nowhere for the Chicago White Sox. In a season where Chicago didn’t expect much from their starting rotation, they have found a long-term gem. Smith made his first All-Star game this season and has pitched well throughout the entire season. In his last start, he threw five innings and allowed just one run on five hits in a loss against the New York Yankees.

This series serves as a moral boost for both squads as their disappointing seasons are coming to an end. Both teams have a foundation and could be solid in the future; however, there are many changes that need to happen to both squads. Washington has seen some bright spots throughout this long, dreary 2025 season. The off-season is looming ahead, and both teams should be desperate to improve their roster anyway they can.

Hopefully, when next season rolls around, the Washington Nationals can be playing competitive baseball, and with the young talent they have, they are not as far off from success as people may think.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...season-final-series-against-chicago-white-sox

 

[Washington Nationals]

Bob Carpenter says good night to his wife and the Washington Nationals

It was around 9:20 PM when I received a call I had been expecting. The call was from soon to be retiring Nationals broadcaster Bob Carpenter. My heart was racing, eager to get started asking questions. However, Bob gave me a heads up before we got going. His wife Debbie would be calling him at some point. He would have to get off the call because he wanted to talk to her before she went to bed.

So, 15 minutes into our conversation, Bob said it was time to take a pause so he could talk to his wife. About 20 minutes later, he called me back and we resumed our conversation. Honestly, this sort of charm is on brand for the Nationals long time announcer. That wholesome, familial vibe he has on the broadcast comes through even more when you talk to him in person. You can tell a lot about a person from their priorities, and Bob Carpenter has his priorities straight.

Surrounded by Sports

Growing up in St. Louis Carpenter was surrounded by sports. When asked, Carpenter said, “I just grew up in an environment where there was always sports to watch, to listen to on the radio or to play”. Having grown up in a house on the grounds of his parish, there was always something for a young Bob Carpenter to do.

However, Carpenter got his start in the baseball world due to his older sister Judy. She worked with the Cardinals for over 50 years and her little brother idolizes her. Carpenter said that his sister was a “baseball mentor” to him. He said that Judy helped him get a grasp of the inner workings of a front office, which helped him understand the game at a deeper level. Carpenter told me that he is very proud that he and his sister will have combined for 94 years in the big leagues.

Eventually, he would get a job at the ballpark. However, his young mind was set on bigger and better things. He told me that “during the breaks, I used to go on the ramp in center field where nobody could see me and stand there for 15 or 20 minutes and announce the game out loud to myself and pretend I was Jack Buck”.

Working with his Idols and living the Dream

As fate would have it, Carpenter would be working with his hero 15 years later. On Opening Day of 1984, Carpenter called his first MLB game. The Dodgers were playing the Cardinals and the 31 year old Carpenter was surrounded by legends. As he put it, “It was a beautiful day at Dodgers Stadium, 56,000 people there. Jack Buck is sitting 20 feet to my left and I’ve got Vin Scully sitting on the other side of the wall to my right. I am 31 years old and I am sitting there thinking “what the hell am I doing here with these guys”.

Carpenter actually kept the scorebook from that game and was nice enough to share a picture of it with me. The Cardinals ended up winning the game 11-7. It was the start of what became a long and prosperous career for Bob Carpenter.

If you have followed Bob for long enough, his passion for the scorebook has become a big part of his identity. Carpenter told me this passion for scorekeeping came from his father, who took him to see Cardinals games.

However, as he rose through the ranks, the softball scorebooks he was using just were not getting the job done. He felt like he needed to act and create a better scorebook. Carpenter told me that after a couple months of his first season, he went to Whitey Herzog’s office and asked for a lineup card. From there, he went to his hotel room and laid out the grid that would become the signature Bob Carpenter scorebook.

Bob Carpenter stayed on the broadcast scene for a while after that. He was not just a baseball guy though. One of the things Carpenter said he was most proud of in his career was the fact he “did a lot of sports at the major league level”. In addition to baseball, Carpenter broadcasted two World Cups, NFL games, March Madness games, the Masters and the US Open in Tennis. That is a lot to do in one career!

However, baseball has always been his true love. Throughout the call, Bob was adamant about how intelligent baseball fans are. He told me, “You cannot fool baseball fans. There’s thousands of announcers out there that can call a pretty good football game or basketball game”. Carpenter added that, “Baseball is so different from those other sports because you have these long down times and then you have these bursts of action. In football, something happens every 30 seconds”.

Baseball has always meant something a bit extra to Bob and you can tell that when you talk to him. He loves all the other sports, but he truly honors the game of baseball. That leads us right into his time with the Nats.

The Voice of a New Club

When the Washington Nationals came to DC in 2005, Bob Carpenter was not the play-by-play guy yet. However, he came shortly after in 2006. He had bounced around a lot in the last few years before coming, so he wanted to settle down.

As he put it, “The Nationals gave me an opportunity in 2006 to really sink my teeth into a city, into the city’s team, get to know people in the organization and really see what it was like to work some place other than St. Louis”. It has been an experience that Carpenter has loved, calling it “fantastic”.

In his time with the Nats, he has become a mainstay inside the homes of countless people across the DMV, including my own. However, as you would expect if you have ever listened to him, Bob has a much more grounded perspective. He does not see himself as some sort of hero.

When he talked about the recognition he would receive on the 27th, he said, “Whatever happens on the 27th, whether it lasts half an hour or two minutes, I will be the happiest guy in town. It is so nice of them to recognize me, and it is kind of weird because I am being recognized for doing my job”.

Carpenter quickly pointed out that there are people in DC doing much more important work than he is. That is just the kind of guy Bob is. He is immensely proud of his achievements and does not downplay them to be humble, but he also just has a midwest humility to him as well.

Bob called so many memorable Nationals games, so I had to ask him what some of the most memorable ones were. He pointed to the no-hitters as the ones he will always remember, as well as Stephen Strasburg’s debut.

While that answer was predictable, his answer about the World Series team surprised me. Carpenter did not see the 2019 run coming at all. When I asked him if he saw the World Series coming, Carpenter told me, “In 2019, I don’t think I thought about the World Series until we were on the plane to the World Series”.

He added that, “To be honest with you, I never thought about the World Series at all until we won game 4 against the Cardinals. I was like, “Holy crap we are going to the World Series and I am going to get a ring because you get a ring whether you win the World Series or not”. That caught me off guard and made me chuckle because I figured there would be a moment earlier on when he thought this was a team of destiny.

Wrapping Up

As Carpenter wraps up his career that has lasted over 40 years, he is full of pride. He was very happy and thankful to the organization that he could go out on his own terms. Carpenter is acutely aware that this is not always how it ends. He had been laid off before and has had plenty of friends in the industry that have as well.

He told me that he had “joked about the fact I had done my last game for a network, but didn’t know it was my last game”. This time it truly is Bob Carpenter’s last game. For that, he is very grateful to the Nats organization. He said that going out like this is exactly what he and his wife had dreamed about.

As Bob Carpenter signs off for one last time this weekend, Nationals fans should be eternally grateful. Not only for the broadcaster, but the man. After doing this call, I was struck by Bob’s kindness and thoughtful nature. He is truly a legend in this town. See you later Bob!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...-says-good-night-to-wife-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Chicago White Sox Game Thread

The Nationals had a dramatic comeback attempt last night. They actually got the lead, but gave it up in the 9th inning, losing 10-9. The Nats could not out-slug their 4 errors last night. Today, they will look to play clean baseball in the penultimate game of the season.

After slugging three homers last night, Luis Garcia Jr. will be playing a sluggers position over at first base. It is something the Nats are experimenting with. Dylan Crews is out of the lineup, which moves Daylen Lile to right field and Josh Bell to DH. Brady House, Nasim Nunez and Jacob Young will come into the lineup. Jorge Alfaro will do the catching for Jake Irvin, who is wrapping up a season to forget.

one hundred sixty one. pic.twitter.com/GixQt4FY55

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 27, 2025

The White Sox are making a couple changes. Last night Edgar Quero caught and Kyle Teel DH’d. This afternoon that will be flipped. Former Nat Derek Hill will be the starter out in center field today. The White Sox are going with an opener today. It will be left hander Tyler Gilbert.

Our Saturday plans pic.twitter.com/Tc9EnRkZLI

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 27, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 4:05 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7
Before the game, there will be a ceremony for Bob Carpenter, who is retiring. We did a great piece on Bob that you guys should check out. He had such a great run calling Nats games and is forever a legend. The team should be inspired by that and try to win for him. Follow along and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...on-nationals-vs-chicago-white-sox-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Chicago White Sox Game Thread

So this is it, the Washington Nationals season ends today. While it has not been the most successful season, it has been a lot of fun getting to cover this season. Even with the lows, there have also been some fun times as well. Now it is time to do it one more time.

Miguel Cairo is putting out a strong lineup to end the season. James Wood will lead off and DH. CJ Abrams is behind him as is usually the case. Dylan Crews will be back in the lineup after a day off yesterday. After playing first base yesterday, Luis Garcia Jr. is back at his natural second base position. Riley Adams will be back behind the plate. Brad Lord will pitch one last time to close out a strong rookie year.

one hundred sixty two. pic.twitter.com/3eqFZDbBa2

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 28, 2025

For the White Sox, old friend Michael A. Taylor will be in the lineup. Today he announced that he will be retiring. So hopefully he gets a warm reception. Otherwise, it is a mostly unchanged lineup for the White Sox. Shane Smith has gone from a Rule 5 pick to a very good starter for the White Sox. He will look to finish his season on a high.

Today's starting lineup: pic.twitter.com/uCxTVNIJQc

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 28, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 3:05 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

As we close out the season, the Nats will look to finish it out on a high note. It has not gone according to plan, as the Nats have regressed in the win column. However, the emergence of guys like Lile and Wood have been positives. Now let’s do it one more time. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...on-nationals-vs-chicago-white-sox-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals go down with a whimper as Bob Carpenter signs off one last time

In a season that has kicked Nationals fans in the teeth so many times, it is only appropriate that the team closed things out with an 8-0 loss. They could only muster one hit against the 102-loss White Sox. However, this game was still special, but not for the putrid play on the field.

Nationals long time broadcaster Bob Carpenter said ‘see you later’ one last time, as he called his final Nats game. The tributes that came in for Carpenter were fantastic. The Nats put together a tribute that had some heavy hitters such as Joe Buck congratulate Bob on a wonderful career. Carpenter had the chance to work with Joe Buck, as well as his legendary father Jack Buck.

the master, Carpenter pic.twitter.com/WmyFyJ9fRr

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 28, 2025

Throughout the game, there were a lot of great moments for Bob. One thing that I really loved is when the team saluted him after they took the field in the first inning. It was a super cool moment and a classy recognition. Carpenter is a Nationals icon and it is cool to see him be recognized as such.

Classy from the Nationals — the whole team came out of the dugout to tip their cap to Bob Carpenter before first pitch: pic.twitter.com/ULNKaTDyfp

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) September 28, 2025

To the game itself, things were pretty ugly. Darnell Coles’ reign as Nationals hitting coach ended in fitting fashion. The offensive unit only mustered one hit against a last place White Sox team at home. For a while, it looked like White Sox starter Shane Smith could throw a perfect game.

The Nationals only base runner of the game came when Brady House hit a single to the right fielder in the bottom of the 6th. Other than that, nobody reached the entire game for the Nats.

On the pitching side, Brad Lord looked worn down by the long season. His fastball velocity was down 2 ticks this afternoon. It was a very successful rookie season for Lord, but you could tell today that he was out of gas. A few of the Nats younger pitchers that pitched well for most of the season began to run out of gas in September.

Bob Carpenter was not the only one to announce that this was it for him. Former Nat Michael A. Taylor announced his retirement this morning after 10 seasons in the big leagues. Taylor got to go out in the place where it all started for him. Despite never truly grabbing on to a starting gig with the Nats, Taylor was a fan favorite due to his playoff heroics and wholesome personality.

He got a few tributes throughout the game. The Nats crowd was really eager to show their love to the center fielder. Even when he got an RBI groundout to bring home another run for the White Sox, Nats fans showered him with applause.

one last SEE. YOU. TATER, Michael A. pic.twitter.com/q7VQ8RbvZf

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 28, 2025

Despite the loss, it was an emotional day that made me proud to be a Nats fan. Sure, the game was not great and the season was not much better, but hey, there is always next year.

After the game was over, the attention turned to Carpenter once more. An emotional Bob Carpenter got to sign off for one last time. The 42 year veteran of the MLB broadcast game got to go out on his terms, with his wife right by his side. Thank you Bob, you will always be the voice of Nationals baseball to me.

The voice of the Washington Nationals, Bob Carpenter, signs off for the final time. #ThankYouBob pic.twitter.com/nqHoDZOj6y

— Bennett Lehmann (@DCBerk) September 28, 2025

This closed out the 2025 season. With the loss, the Nationals final record is a disappointing 66-96. There will be big changes coming this offseason. We know that Paul Toboni will be the new POBO, but there are still a lot of things up in the air.

Who will be the GM who reports to Toboni? Who will be the manager and what will his staff look like? These are all questions that need to be answered quickly. Hopefully those changes can breathe new life into a franchise that has really struggled since the World Series in 2019. Nationals fans are really hoping that 2026 can be a year where the team finally shows some progression because 2025 certainly was not that year.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ith-whimper-bob-carpenter-signs-off-last-time

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals Grades: Evaluating CJ Abrams up and down season

Now that we are officially in the offseason, we will be trying some new things here at Federal Baseball. One thing we will do this offseason is evaluate and grade the players on the 2025 team. We will look at what went right, what went wrong and how these guys can look to improve this offseason. The first player we will evaluate is shortstop CJ Abrams.

Overall, this was another up and down season for Abrams. He was very good in the first half before fading down the stretch. This has been a problem for a lot of the Nats best players. At this point, it is tough to tell if this is a player issue or an organizational issue. It is tough to watch MacKenzie Gore and Abrams start so well before going off the rails.

When you zoom out, Abrams offensive numbers were almost identical to last year. Last season, Abrams hit .246 with a .314 OBP, a .433 slugging percentage and a .747 OPS. This year he hit .257 with a .315 OBP, a .433 slugging percentage and a .748 OPS. Even his advanced numbers like xwOBA and wOBA were virtually identical.

However, his fWAR actually improved quite a bit, though his bWAR was mostly unchanged. Abrams fWAR went from 1.9 in 2024 to 3.1 in 2025. This improvement comes from slight defensive improvements and his base running returning to elite levels. In early September, Abrams fWAR was actually at 3.3 before a tough month to end the season.

I feel like CJ Abrams season is flying under the radar. 123 G, 17 HR, 28 SB, 3.3 fWAR, 115 OPS+. pic.twitter.com/OZ9EPcy4ZI

— Sam Fosberg (@discussbaseball) September 5, 2025

To his credit, the numbers suggest Abrams improved a bit on defense, even if it still is not great. His OAA went from -18 to -9 and his fielding run value went from -14 to -7. Is Abrams a shortstop long term, I am not so sure. His arm is still light for the position, his range is average at best and he makes more errors than you would like. I think second base would be a good home for him long term, but for now Abrams is the shortstop. Hopefully he can continue to improve on the defensive side of the ball.

One thing I like about Abrams is that he always comes into seasons well prepared and improved. He comes in with a plan and executes it. That is why he always gets off to fast starts. However, as the season goes along, Abrams has a tough time finding the necessary adjustments to keep up his strong work.

As we mentioned briefly, another reason why Abrams fWAR went up is that his base running returned to form. In 2023, Abrams was one of the best base runners in the sport. He had a base running run value of 8 and a BsR of 9.2, both among the best in the league. Abrams was also 47/51 stealing that season. In 2024, his base running regressed to merely above average levels. He only stole 31 bases while being caught 12 times. His base running run value was also only 4.

However, he returned to form this season. Sure, he did not get back to the 40 steal level he was at in 2023, but he swiped 31 bags while only being caught 3 times. Abrams posted 7 base running run value and 7.4 BsR. His BsR was 7th in baseball.

To take the next step, Abrams needs to have a full season’s worth of good offense. For a second straight year, he really fell off in the second half. Before the All-Star break, Abrams hit .287 with an .836 OPS. In the second half, he really tailed off with a .217 average and .634 OPS.

The home run power was in line with last season. While he did not reach the 20 homer milestone, he did get to 19, only one off of last season. Abrams became a real doubles machine this year, with his 35 two baggers being a career high and 12th in all of baseball.

ohh look at me im cj abrams I crush baseballs pic.twitter.com/qsJvlQ4mC2

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 10, 2025

Abrams speed also allows him to hit a good amount of triples. In 2023 and 2024, he hit six triples. This year that went down to five, which is still a healthy amount. He is no Daylen Lile, but three baggers are a part of Abrams’ game.

A two-run triple from CJ Abrams puts the @Nationals up 3 in the 11th! pic.twitter.com/nYgWoJZd4x

— MLB (@MLB) June 29, 2025

I am confident that Abrams will make the adjustments heading into the season. He has done that in each of the last two seasons. However, can he make the appropriate in-season adjustments? That is what he needs to do if he wants to take that next step.

Overall, Abrams had a decent season, but he did not take that leap Nats fans were hoping for. The improved defense and base running helped out his WAR, but his offense was remarkably similar to 2024 both in the numbers and how he got to those numbers.

You cannot complain too much about a 3 wins season, but Abrams left me wanting more. Can he finally finish a season strong in 2026? I really hope he can because he is great to watch when he is on his game.

Season Grade: B-

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ls-grades-evaluating-cj-abrams-up-down-season

 

[Washington Nationals]

Where do the Washington Nationals go from here?

As Nasim Nunez stared at a well placed sinker, it really hit me that this Nationals season is over. The 2025 Washington Nationals are now part of the history books. It will not be a chapter that is looked back on fondly, but if the team plays their cards right, it could be the year where the first needed changes were made.

Heading into the season, expectations for the Nationals were higher than they had been the last few years. After back to back 71-91 seasons, the goal was to push towards .500 and be in the mix deep into the season. That was the message both Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez sent in Spring Training.

Sure, the Nats did not break the bank in the offseason, but they made some moves to help improve the team. Most notably, the Nats traded for Nathaniel Lowe to be their first baseman. Lowe had been one of the most consistent players in baseball the previous four seasons, but he was just not a fit in DC.

He posted a .665 OPS in DC before getting released on August 14th. To add insult to injury, Lowe rebounded and went back to his Texas levels once he joined the Red Sox. It was just that kind of year for the Washington Nationals.

That is why they finished 66-96 and fired Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez. Let’s talk about those firings because those are the most important things to come out of this season. Davey Martinez and especially Mike Rizzo had become ever presents for Nationals fans. It became tough to imagine life without them.

However, life without them has come. They were both fired in early July after an absolutely miserable June. Mike DeBartolo and Miguel Cairo held down the fort for the rest of the season, but further changes are coming.

The arrival of Paul Toboni should change everything. As a 35 year old who has immersed himself in the modern game, Toboni will be a very different voice to Mike Rizzo, who was an old school guy. In the 2020’s, Rizzo struggled to adapt to the game, but Toboni is right on the cutting edge. With the Lerner’s closing up the check books, the Nats will need to be on the cutting edge to survive. It is possible to win with a smaller budget, but you need to use analytics heavily to do that.

Toboni should bring that to the Nationals. He will also bring much needed scouting acumen. Over the past decade, the Nationals have struggled mightily in the draft. Rizzo has whiffed on first round pick after first round pick. Given his drafting track record in Boston, it is easy to envision Toboni turning around the Nats drafting. It is critical to reversing the losing culture that has set in over the past half decade.

Given the state of the team, fans should not expect a quick turnaround in 2026. The team finished 29th in ERA and 24th in OPS. Spending alone will not get you out of that kind of hole. The organization needs to do a better job developing talent and that is why they brought in Toboni.

However, it is not all bad. There are a few pieces to build around here. One of the big surprises of 2025 was the emergence of Daylen Lile. He had a September for the ages and the 22 year old established himself as a piece of the Nationals core. For the season, he hit .299 with an .845 OPS. Lile hit 9 homers, 15 doubles and an insane 11 triples. He was my favorite part of a disappointing campaign.

The only player with both a higher wRC+ and fWAR than Daylen Lile in September? Aaron Judge.

What a breakout for the Nationals rookie! pic.twitter.com/xauORJDAVl

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) September 28, 2025

Despite tailing off in the second half, James Wood also established himself as a foundational piece. He hit 31 homers with 94 RBI’s in his first full season. His batting average was .256 and his OPS was .825. Some of the opposite field homers he hit were downright ridiculous.

This swing is why no one should be worried about James Wood. pic.twitter.com/lUG5PdDlFQ

— Bobby Blanco (@Bobby_Blanco) September 27, 2025

Sure, the strikeouts are an issue he needs to fix. Wood will always be a high strikeout guy, but his flirtation with the all time strikeout record at the end of the year was a bit embarrassing. For the season, Wood struck out 221 times. To reach that star level we know he can get to, that needs to come down.

There are also more pieces that should interest Paul Toboni. While MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams tailed off in the second half, they had solid seasons on the whole. Brad Lord and Cade Cavalli also showed flashes in the rotation. Jose A. Ferrer, Cole Henry and Clayton Beeter did the same in the bullpen.

However, Toboni will be looking to unlock more out of some other Nats youngsters. Dylan Crews and Brady House struggled pretty badly at the MLB level. Crews showed some flashes, but has yet to put it all together offensively. House looked overmatched in his first taste of MLB action. His power needs to show up.

I am very curious to see what Toboni does with the coaching staff. This much maligned 2025 staff is as good as gone, but I am interested to see what kind of manager comes in. Will Toboni go with a fresh young manager to relate to a young team, or an older manager that can instill some discipline in a team that has gotten too loose. Dylan Crews’ comments about accountability were really telling.

A very good, very insightful quote from Dylan Crews after Game No. 162 about how the Nationals can turn these raw emotions into a successful 2026: pic.twitter.com/ULKhb5M1tE

— Spencer Nusbaum (@spencernusbaum_) September 28, 2025

Nailing the hires for the hitting and pitching coach positions is also paramount. Darnell Coles and Jim Hickey/Sean Doolittle were not getting the most out of these guys. Especially on the offensive side of the ball, a lot of meat was being left on the bone. When Nats hitters went on slumps, things spiraled out of control. On the pitching side, they threw too many fastballs, though a lot of their struggles just come down to a lack of talent.

Paul Toboni is going to have to determine the direction of a franchise that has been rudderless since the 2019 World Series. While this was a highly disappointing season, it is one of the most important ones in recent memory.

It was the year where the Mike Rizzo rebuild officially failed. He was failed by ownership, but he also did not deliver in the draft like he needed to. Now it is time to see what Paul Toboni can do. The first step to solve a problem is recognizing the problem exists.

The Lerner family realized that things were not going well and finally acted. Now it is time for them to back Paul Toboni. That backing goes beyond just Free Agent signings. They need to let him enact his vision and modernize this organization.

Honestly, it is going to be tough to attract big name free agents this offseason. If Pete Alonso has similar offers from the Nats and the Mets, why would he join the Nats. Right now, they are a losing franchise. Paul Toboni needs to get things going in the right direction with mid-level free agent signings and shrewd trades. Once the team shows they are headed in the right direction, the big name free agents will be attracted if the money is right.

2025 was one of the more painful Nats seasons I can remember. It was supposed to be a year where the team went forwards. Instead they regressed and played a painful brand of baseball. However, the organization finally got shaken up. If Paul Toboni can turn around this ship, the suffering from this season could all be worth it in the end.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/86583/where-do-washington-nationals-go-from-here