The Washington Nationals are currently the best team in baseball at this point. While I say this tongue in cheek, as the team is only just a few games into their 2026 spring training campaign at this point, it can't be denied that they have looked good so far. The Nationals are 3-0 to start out, tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates atop the Grapefruit League.
While it certainly won't last, and the results don't matter in the grand scheme of things, there have been a handful of players who have already stood out. As there are a ton of position and playing time battles taking place, let's identify 3 players that have helped the Nationals reach their opening 3-0 mark.
Andrew Pinckney
A guy who has been a bit of a sleeper prospect since being drafted back in 2023, Andrew Pinckney started off spring training on the right foot. While him making the team out of camp is likely out of the picture due to the depth above him, Pinckney is doing the right things on both side of the ball.
In Saturday's opener against the Astros, he scorched a 114 MPH double off the bat into left-center field, and made a fantastic defensive play as well. His defensive play came from hosing a runner from right field at third base, showcasing his well-rounded skill set that has a lot of club officials excited about him heading into this season.
andrew pinckney mid-season form 🎯💪 pic.twitter.com/OIYsd93Zls
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 21, 2026
Marquis Grissom Jr.
Pitching standouts can sometimes be difficult to select, as they are not pitching too deep into games at this stage of spring training. However, sometimes there can be guys that look fantastic in limited opportunity, as is the case with righty and Chipotle connoisseur Marquis Grissom Jr.
In his 2026 spring training debut on Saturday, Grissom Jr. ended up throwing 2 shutout innings to lock down the victory over the Astros, allowing no baserunners while firing 16 of his 20 pitches for strikes. It was an efficient outing for the righty, who is looking to bounce back after a difficult 2025 campaign and factor into the bullpen equation this year.
Brady House
Last but certainly not least, we have third baseman Brady House, who had arguably the biggest splash performance for the Nationals so far this spring. While his debut season last year was a little bit underwhelming given his prospect pedigree, House seems like a logical breakout candidate this season under better coaching.
On Sunday, House blasted a pair of homers against the Miami Marlins, including a 3-run blast off of Sandy Alcantara that traveled 415 feet. He finished the game 2/4 and drove in 4 total runs, giving fans a sense of what might be to come this season.
Who have you been most impressed with so far on the Nationals through the first 3 games? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.