The Super Bowl has come and gone, which means it's officially baseball season. Spring Training is here and speculation around the Opening Day roster has already begun. There are still some questions as to who will make the roster for the Nationals, but it is easy to project most of the players who will make it. However, making the roster doesn't mean that a player is guaranteed to keep that spot, and there are several Nationals who are no exception. Here are three Nationals players who will make the Opening Day roster, but will be on thin ice as the season goes on.
1. Mitchell Parker
Mitchell Parker was a nice surprise for the Nationals in 2024. He made his debut in mid-April against the Dodgers and put together a respectable rookie year, with a 4.29 ERA, 3.85 FIP, and 133 strikeouts in 151 innings. He will likely make the starting rotation coming out of training camp, but he will be the fourth or fifth starter and would be the first to be sent to the minors if he struggles. DJ Herz and Shinnosuke Ogasawara are both candidates to be in the rotation as well, so if Parker struggles to begin the year, he will be on thin ice.
2. Riley Adams
The fact the Riley Adams is going to make the Opening Day roster says a lot about the state of the team, but that's neither here nor there. Adams will be the backup catcher going into the 2025 season barring an injury, but that doesn't mean that he shouldn't be nervous about being sent to the minors. In 2024, Adams recorded -0.3 fWAR and a 75 wRC+ in just 41 games while also being a defensive liability. Conversely, Drew Millas (who should be the starting catcher, let alone the backup) recorded 0.3 fWAR in just 20 games and provided above average defense behind the plate, something the Nationals have been severely lacking as of late. If Adams continues his poor play behind the plate and in the batter's box, then he is going to be first in line for the next flight to Rochester.
3. Juan Yepez
Juan Yepez was a very nice surprise for the Nationals last season and could very well play a role in the 2025 season, too. The only reason Yepez is on this list is because the Nationals have a lot of options at 1B/DH and he may end up being the odd man out at some point this season. Yepez hit 6 home runs, had a 113 wRC+, and recorded 0.4 fWAR in 62 games in 2024, which was more than enough for him to earn a spot on the 2025 roster. With the additions of Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell plus Andres Chaparro also being on the roster, Yepez may end up in a tough situation despite his solid performance in 2024. Hopefully he performs well enough to remain on the roster, but if he struggles out of the gate in 2025, he may be on thin ice.