The Washington Nationals did not have a huge stamp on the World Baseball Classic this year as they have in years past, but there were some moments sprinkled in that had roads and ties that all led back to the Nation's Capital.
The Nationals did actually have 2 players appear in the tournament this season, although it was a pair of players who likely will not be included on the Opening Day roster in backstop Harry Ford and infielder Matt Mervis, but the club's main stars are still in camp with the Nationals. In fact, the only current National who really had a chance to make the team was outfielder James Wood, who was ultimately passed over for Roman Anthony after an injury to Corbin Carroll.
However, as I said before, there were a handful of players throughout the tournament who all had ties to Washington, with a lot of guys having played either for or in the organization at some point in their professional careers. The most notable occurrence of this came in the bottom of the 8th inning in last night's WBC final, when a pair of former Nationals with very different careers faced off against each other.
That is always part of what makes the WBC so special each year is that guys who are fringe major leaguers can play for their countries and get a chance to be one of the focal points and stars of the team. Last night was no different, as the biggest moment in the game happened when a former phenom and a guy who hasn't appeared in the majors since 2023 faced off in a big spot.
Those 2 players were Bryce Harper for Team USA and righty reliever Andres Machado from Venezuela. Machado has not appeared in the majors after spending 3 seasons with the Nationals from 2021-2023, and he had actually showed some promise before his tenure came to an end. Harper is a player who needs no introduction, and he ended up getting the best of Machado.
Harper destroyed a 1-0 changeup to dead center field with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th inning, as a stunned Machado smiled through the pain, seemingly in disbelief that he had been bested by Harper in that spot. Machado had been great during the tournament, but got beat by one of the game's best when it mattered most.
Ultimately, the Americans would ultimately lose the lead in the next half inning, and of course ended up losing 3-2 in the final. While the result was certainly disappointing for the United States, the fact that an entire tournament almost came down to the result of 2 former Nationals players is a pretty neat fact.
What did you think of the World Baseball Classic Championship game? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.