There are plenty of players that have stood out at AAA or signed to MiLB deals that deserve a shot at playing time on the MLB team. The Nationals tend to carry 1-2 bench outfielders and 1-2 bench infielders that serve as pinch hitters and runners. The only question is, who deserves those spots? The Nats already added INF Amed Rosario, and he is expected to take over the role that INF Ildemaro Vargas has served over the last few seasons. Rosario is a high-average hitter with plus speed and below average defense, while he can play any position. So that leaves 4 spots on the bench for other players.
In 2022, the Nationals claimed outfielder Alex Call off of waivers from the Cleveland Guardians. Call has appeared in around 50 games a season bouncing between AAA and the main roster. Call was the opening-day left fielder in 2023, and began the 2024 season at AAA. With the Nationals moving on from outfielders Eddie Rosario and Lane Thomas. Call would get one final opprotunity to produce at the big league level. In 30 games, Call hit .343 with 3 homers and 14 RBI. Call was the best hitter in baseball from the time he was called up to the time he suffered a season-ending leg injury. Call is the favored outfielder to be on the bench in 2025, as I believe he earned the spot in 2024.
In 2023, the Nationals also added outfielder Stone Garrett. He suffered the same type of scenario in that season, hitting .269 with 9 homers and 40 RBI before a season-ending leg injury. Garrett broke the internet in 2024 by hitting a homerun in his first at-bat back on the main roster in the 2nd to last game of the season.
A little over a year ago, Stone Garrett broke his leg with the Nationals just as he was beginning to establish himself as an everyday MLB player.
— Reno Aces (@Aces) September 29, 2024
Last night, he returned to the Majors from his injury, and sent his first ball back out of the park 🥹 pic.twitter.com/g5d7EbhU50
The Nationals also have 2 young infielders that they need to choose from. Both Nasim Nunez and Darren Baker are short, speedy infielders who don't hit for power. Nunez was a Rule 5 pick in 2024 and spent the entire season on the main roster, while Darren Baker was one of 2 September call-ups, getting a hit in his first at-bat. While both players are overshadowed, the Nationals will likely hold onto one of the two just for the speed off the bench. We saw Nasim Nunez used primarily in that "pinch runner" role late in games in 2024.
One big decision that remains is that the team will also need to decide on a pair of first basemen in Juan Yepez and Andres Chaparro. This offseason, the Nats added Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell, and with Lowe looking to be the starting 1B and Josh Bell the starting DH, the Nationals seem to have replaced Yepez and Chaparro. Even though Bell is a switch hitter, he should primarily hit from the left side and platoon with Andres Chapparo. Chaparro has proven to mash left-handed pitching and is continuing to shine in the Mexican League, where he broke the postseason homerun record a few weeks ago.
If the Nationals decide to hold 5 bench position players, I believe those names should be Amed Rosario (INF), Alex Call (OF), Juan Yepez (INF), Darren Baker (INF), and Stone Garrett (OF). We will see how the spring goes, and if any minor league signees prove to be better opportunists than these familiar faces.