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Nationals: Two Contingency Plans For Third Base

By Max Rayman

Carter Kieboom #8 of the Washington Nationals plays third base against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on September 11, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Carter Kieboom #8 of the Washington Nationals plays third base against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on September 11, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Josh Harrison
Josh Harrison #5 of the Washington Nationals bats against the New York Mets during game 1 of a double header at Nationals Park on September 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Option 1

Start Josh Harrison. Send Kieboom back to the minors/bench

One of the first moves Mike Rizzo made this off-season was re-signing the versatile Josh Harrison. The two-time All-Star has played 1,917.2 innings at third, posting 23 DRS. Defensively, Harrison is declining, but can still hold down the position. In 2020, he had posted a 1.8 UZR and one DRS.

Offensively, Harrison will be an instant upgrade over Kieboom. During his 10 year career, Harrison is hitting .273, with 56 homers, 291 RBIs, and an OPS of .715. Never known for his power, Harrison has excelled at getting on base, seen by his modest .352 OBP. Last year in 79 at-bats, he hit .278, with three homers, 14 RBIs, and an OPS of .769. The veteran would be a stopgap while Kieboom gathers himself.

Starting Harrison allows Washington to do one of two things with Kieboom. First, they can use him off of the bench, but sending him back to the minors would be the smarter option. Kieboom’s confidence has taken a hit and a trip to Triple-A would allow for the youngster to get his mindset. In the minors, he can tweak his mechanics at the plate, while also becoming more comfortable at third.

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