Washington Nationals: Opening Day 2017 Roster Projection

With Spring Training games beginning tomorrow, how will the Washington Nationals roster look on Opening Day? We take a guess as exhibition play gets underway.

Tomorrow afternoon, the Washington Nationals will play their first exhibition game of the spring when they take on the New York Mets at Port St. Lucie (1:10 p.m ET). We are over a month away from the Nats beginning their 2017 regular season campaign April 3 against the Miami Marlins at Nats Park.

Spring Training is always an interesting time because you never know what storylines will come from it. The biggest storyline has to be the new facility in West Palm Beach and it will be interesting to see games being played there beginning February 28 against the Houston Astros (1:10 p.m ET, MASN).

Every spring training, there is always that one surprise player that ends up making a good impression on the coaching staff and ends up making the 25-man roster. Some of those examples include first baseman Clint Robinson 2015 and reliever Matt Belisle last year. Who will that player be this year?

Today, I wanted to make my Washington Nationals roster projection and what it might look like on Opening Day. Keep in mind a lot of things can happen between now and Opening Day in terms of injuries or roster moves.

With that being said, this projection will go in this order: starting lineup, bench, starting rotation, and bullpen. Keep in mind these projections are being made before the official signing of Matt Wieters. So, without further ado, let’s start with who I think should be the leadoff hitter: