Three Longtime Nationals Who Won't Be With The Team Much Longer
With top prospects on the rise, and many changes coming to the organization, it might be time for Nationals fans to accept the fate of some of these tenured players.
The Nationals enter 2024 with one of their best farm systems in quite some time. Top prospects like Dylan Crews, James Wood, and Robert Hassell III are on the rise and for these players to break the Bigs, some of the veterans will have to depart. Here are a few players that will have their Nationals’ careers cut short in 2024.
Carter Kieboom - INF
Yes, Nationals fans, the Carter Kieboom dilemma is ending. The former top prospect has yet to live up to the hype since being called up in 2019 when Trea Turner went down with a finger injury. In 11 games, Kieboom slashed .128 with 2 homers and 16 k’s. Kieboom would be given the starting role in 2020 after Anthony Rendon was signed by the Angels and would not perform well. In 122 games, Kieboom holds a .199 career batting average, with 12 homers, 138 strikeouts, and only 21 extra-base hits. Carter would begin the 2023 season on the I.L. and return to the field against New York in September. Kieboom is expected to be replaced by Nick Senzel in 2024, and Prospect Brady House down the road.
Patrick Corbin - LHP
The 2019 World Series Champion and Game 7 winning pitcher Patrick Corbin is entering the final year of his 4-year contract signed back in ‘19. Corbin introduced himself to the district with a great 1st season, pitching to a 3.25 ERA, the 2nd lowest in his career, and striking out 238 batters over 202.2 innings. The Nationals looked like they had stolen the lefty, but then hitters figured out the slider. Since 2020, Corbin has not had a sub-4.50 ERA, the worst coming in 2022, with a 6.31 ERA. In that span, Corbin is leading the league in worst ERA, home runs given up, and walks allowed. Corbin’s role in 2024 will be a back-end rotation arm and should contemplate retirement after the season. His contract finally coming off the books should be a welcome sight to all.
Victor Robles - OF
The Longest-tenured National to this point, former MLB top prospect Victor Robles is likely to be replaced during or following the 2024 season. Robles, still only 26, got the call in 2017 and earned a starting role in 2019. Like Patrick Corbin, Robles had a great first season, hitting .255 with 17 homers and a .745 OPS. Since then, Robles hasn’t hit near that level, hitting 11 home runs over the next 4 seasons. Robles would even be sent to Triple-AAA and lose the starting job in 2022 to then recently claimed outfielder Alex Call. However, Robles has always shined with the glove, being a Gold Glove finalist 3 times since 2020. Last season featured a decent start for Victor, hitting .299 over 36 games, with a walk percentage higher than he ever had in his career. Robles would then be shelved for the season after a shoulder and back injury landed him on the IL. Now unless Robles comes out firing in 2024 and earns an extension, he will be replaced by outfielder Jacob Young, and likely top prospects Dylan Crews, Robert Hassell III, and James Wood, among a few other top outfielders that are part of the crowded outfield depth.
Many other players will lose their starting roles in 2024 as well, but they haven’t been on the team as long. RHP Joan Adon, OF Alex Call, 1B/DH Joey Meneses, and 2B Luis Garcia are all at risk of losing their starting roles due to top talent in the minor league systems. For fans, this should be embraced as most of these players at risk would not even be playing on most other MLB teams.