Law leaping at chance to be part of infield during BP

This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- Batting practice is a special part of the day for reliever Derek Law. It’s the time when he can spread his baseball wings and -- for a brief period of time pregame -- experience being an infielder.

Law first participated in batting practice infield work in the Minor Leagues, and he began joining in on a regular basis three seasons ago.

“It’s cool to watch these guys up close,” Law, 34, said. “You stand in the outfield and watch balls fly over your head, and you don't really realize how hard they're hitting the ball. Then you get in the infield, and you're like, ‘Whoa, those are hit really hard.’ It gives you a different perspective of the game a little bit.”

Law said he raised some eyebrows at first. Pitchers commonly stand in the outfield and shag fly balls. But he wanted to be near to the action -- within reason.

“Honestly, I think [new coaches are] just like, ‘This guy's out of his mind. Why is he standing there?’” Law laughed. “... I think everywhere I go, most of the time, the first thing they say is like, ‘Just please don't get hurt.’ I’m smart enough where I’m just going to get out of the way.”

Law considers his batting practice web gem as an outfield catch, when a fan captured a video of him robbing a BP home run at Yankee Stadium in 2019.

This season, he remembers playing in New York for a different reason. Last Monday at Citi Field, Law did not handle a comebacker from Jose Iglesias that allowed the game-tying run to score in an eventual loss.

“I was furious at myself because I'm like, ‘I literally work on this,’” Law, who is 7-4 with a 2.74 ERA in 85 1/3 innings, said. “Without working on it, I work on this. I was mad at myself more than anything. It’s a hit, but to me, that's a hit on myself. Because I should have had it, because I do this every day, I see this every day.

“As a pitcher, that's part of the reason I like doing it, because you can't really be on the mound and get comebackers like you normally would ever get. So when it does happen, you have the opportunity. Usually you're more prepared, but I guess I need to prepare a little bit more [laughs].”

Through spending time in the infield, Law has developed relationships across the roster. He has become closer with shortstop Nasim Nu?ez, as an example, this season. Last year, he got to know Spencer Steer in the Reds’ infield -- and now he is going to Steer’s wedding.

“You’re running into more guys than just the pitchers in the outfield that you’re talking to, because pitchers talk to each other all the time,” Law said. “More guys were coming up to me, and I actually built a lot more relationships with infielders last year than I would anybody else, which is unique.”

Law has found the more time he spends in the infield during BP at Nationals Park, the more teammates chat with him when they are going about their pregame routines. It’s no surprise he has become a glue guy in just his first season in the Nationals' clubhouse.

“You’re just kind of in the middle of the track going into the outfield, especially if you’re at second base at our field,” Law said. “I'm [getting to know teammates] without even realizing it. I definitely can't stop doing it.”