Washington Nationals: Riley Adams has a flair for the dramatic

Riley Adams was the first player the Washington Nationals acquired at the trading deadline this year. That may have been the only time he was in the spot light. Adams was a top-thirty prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays system, though he would be one of three catchers the Nats would add to their organization when all trades were announced.

Keibert Ruiz has been anointed the catcher of the future for the Nationals, and he homered in his first game with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. Adams, who is just filling a spot at the Major League level while Rene Rivera and Alex Avila mend injuries, is a 25 year-old depth piece. Presumably.

Adams was hitless in his first seven at-bats with the Nationals and had just three hits in 35 at-bats in his big league career.

Nationals catcher Riley Adams picked a good time to blast his first Major League home run.

The Nationals had four hits through eight innings and were well on their way to another loss in their game against the Atlanta Braves. Then Riley Adams stepped to the plate. With a runner on base and down to their last out, Adams wasted no time. He took the first offering he saw from Braves closer Will Smith and deposited it into the left field stands.

He choose the perfect time to get his first hit in a Nationals uniform and his first Major League home run of his career. In a matter of seconds, he erased a deficit and put the Nats ahead. A lead they would not relinquish.

Getting the start while Tres Barrera caught a breather, Adams doesn’t plan to get many more reps the rest of the year. He is a part of the future though. While Rivera most likely will be DFAed when he returns from the Injured List, Avila will be activated and be a veteran presence on a team which lacks veteran leadership behind the plate. This will send Adams back to the minors.

At some point this year we expect to see Ruiz make his Nationals debut in DC as well. When rosters expand in September Adams will be recalled, though just for experience, not to play serious innings.

Regardless of what the future holds, Adams had a night to remember in hitting his first big league home runny giving the Nationals a much needed win.