Washington Nationals: Opening Day 2017 Roster Projection

Koda Glover

For me, the X-factor of the entire spring is Glover. He could fill a multitude of roles for this team. He could either be on the Major League roster or start the year in triple-A preparing for the closer role. According to Roster Resource, he does have two options left, so the Washington Nationals can choose to take it slow with him.

Last season, the 23-year-old right-hander only got to appear in 19 games. He did not get the opportunity to pitch in the postseason because of a hip injury. Now, he is in the competition for the closer role after he surged up to the major leagues last season. Keep in mind he was drafted in the eighth round of the MLB Draft in 2015.

While Glover could learn the ninth inning in the minor leagues, it would be good for him to start the year in the majors. He could start to pitch in the sixth and seventh innings and earn the trust of Baker and Maddux. If he succeeds, he can gradually inch towards the closer role.

When he came up to the Major Leagues, Glover had an average fastball velocity of over 96 miles per hour (according to Fangraphs). Plus, he showed a nasty slider, which he used more than his heater.

If Glover can stay healthy and doesn’t show any issues with his hip, he should be on the Major League roster. Yes, the Nats have other options such as Trevor Gott that they could turn to, but my prediction is he does enough this spring to get a spot on the Opening Day roster.