While fans of the Washington Nationals are continuing to become restless about the lackluster performance of Designated Hitter Josh Bell in 2025, it appears as if the club might finally have his replacement set to return in the near future.
When it was announced in late December that the Nationals had signed Bell to a 1-year, $6 million deal, the reasoning seemed fairly simple. Bell had the best numbers of his career while as a member of the Nationals in his first stint, and the team clearly wanted to get a veteran power threat into their lineup at the DH spot.
However, as we now know since the season has begun, Bell is certainly not the player that he once was, posting some of the worst numbers of his career to this point through 36 games played. His slash line is abysmal, with a paltry .143/.234/.286 line that doesn't really seem to indicate it will improve much any time soon. His .520 OPS is completely inexusable for a DH, and if the Nationals are thinking logically, his days on the team should be numbered.
Outside of the numbers, a big reason why he has still remained on the team to this point despite his struggles is because the club doesn't really have anyone else capable of stepping in to the every day spot at DH. Sure, they could move James Wood there, but do you really want to make your 22-year-old superstar a full-time DH already? Probably not.
Enter Andres Chaparro, a 26-year-old corner infielder that was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the deadline last year for veteran righty Dylan Floro. You might remember Chaparro's brief audition for the big league club at the end of last season, and he put up a mediocre .215/.280/.413 slash line, good for a .693 OPS in 33 games. He hit 4 homers and drove in 15 runs, but above all else, he looked competent at the dish, something that Bell hasn't really done so far this season.
Chaparro was raking in spring training before a left oblique strain derailed his chances of making the Opening Day roster, and he began the season on the 10-day Injured List as a result. However, as first reported by Talk Nats on X, it appears as if Chaparro is beginning a rehab assignment, as he is listed on the roster of the FCL Nationals, where Chaparro will begin playing while continuing to receive treatment by the medical staff down in West Palm Beach.
It can be assumed that after a few games, Chaparro will then begin a minor league rehab assignment as well, so we are likely still a couple of weeks away from him returning to the big league roster. Of course, Bell could go on a tear over the next few weeks and keep Chaparro in the minors after he recovers from his injury, but that seems unlikely. Hopefully, the Nationals will make the correct decision once Chaparro is recovered from his injury and will give him the chance to be the team's DH.
Do you want to see Andres Chaparro take over for Josh Bell once he's healthy? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.