Nats aim for defensive flexibility with new-look middle infield
Jessica Camerato
@jessicacameratoPHILADELPHIA -- The Nationals already made a change to their everyday shortstop, and more moves around the middle infield are expected this season.
When Luis Garc¨ªa got called up from Triple-A on June 1, he took over the shortstop role from Alcides Escobar. The 22-year-old has made 55 starts there, while veteran C¨¦sar Hern¨¢ndez has started all but three of the Nats¡¯ 110 games at second base.
That pairing is anticipated to have a new look in the coming weeks once shortstop C.J. Abrams, one of the key players acquired by the Nationals in the blockbuster Juan Soto deal with the Padres, gets acclimated to the organization and promoted from Triple-A Rochester.
Abrams, 21, made his Major League debut on April 8 and logged 32 games at shortstop in place of an injured Fernando Tatis Jr. The Nats assigned him to the Red Wings following the trade to get settled in, but he is not expected to be there long. Once he is deemed ready to return to the bigs, look for Abrams to get the nod at shortstop and Garc¨ªa to slide over to second.
¡°He's been taking ground balls over there [at second base],¡± manager Dave Martinez said of Garc¨ªa. ¡°All of our infielders have actually been taking ground balls throughout the infield now, so it's kind of nice. I want them to move around and just get used to taking ground balls in different positions.¡±
Garc¨ªa is no stranger to the position: he entered the bigs as a second baseman in 2020. He has played 96 of his 163 career games there, accumulating a .959 fielding percentage at the position from ¡®20-21. In his first two seasons, he learned about improving footwork, turning double plays and playing from different angles.
¡°If that time comes, I think I¡¯ll be comfortable playing second base,¡± Garc¨ªa said after the Nationals¡¯ 13-1 loss to the Phillies on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park. ¡°But I¡¯m just coming here every day with the idea that I¡¯m going to try to help our team any way possible.¡±
Abrams, who began the season as San Diego¡¯s top prospect, recorded a .980 fielding percentage in his 252 2/3 innings at shortstop with the Padres. As of Sunday, he had appeared in two games for the Red Wings.
¡°He¡¯s a tooled-up, twitchy type of live-body guy that can really run, really play shortstop, very acrobatic and light on his feet,¡± Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said at the Trade Deadline. ¡°We see him as a five-tool type of talent.¡±
As the Nationals look to develop players for their future middle infield, Hern¨¢ndez could see time at third base, where he has played 24 games and has been getting in reps during pregame drills. The Nats also plan for him to take fly balls in the outfield, where he has 190 1/3 frames of experience.
¡°I¡¯ve talked to C¨¦sar,¡± Martinez said. ¡°He understands that we¡¯re going to get younger. ¡ But until that time comes, he¡¯s playing second base for us everyday.¡±
Defensive flexibility is a theme that is echoed throughout the entire Nationals¡¯ new-look roster. Watch for players to be shifted around both the infield and outfield as they vie for playing time this season and beyond.
¡°I love the guys that can play multiple positions,¡± Martinez said. ¡°We've done it in the past. I've been on teams, coaching, where we had guys [who have] been able to play multiple positions. And it makes it nice. It makes it easier for decision-making during the games that we can actually put somebody in another spot without having to take him out of the game.¡±