This season at Nationals Park, the fun doesn’t stop once the final “out” is called – the popular Nats Summer Concert Series is returning to the ballpark in 2025, bringing world-class artists to the baseball diamond on Friday nights throughout the summer. Postgame concerts are free to fans with a ticket to that day’s game. To learn more and purchase tickets, including Concert 6-Packs for access to all six postgame shows, visit nats.com/SummerConcerts.

The Nats Summer Concert Series lineup includes platinum-certified rock band originally from Rockville, Md., O.A.R. (May 9); multi-platinum British pop singer, songwriter and record producer Natasha Bedingfield (June 6); Diamond-selling, multi-platinum and three-time Grammy Award-winning rap superstar Nelly (June 13); Grammy-nominated, Diamond-selling country star Sam Hunt (Aug. 15); chart-topping artists Ja Rule and Grammy Award winner Ashanti (Aug. 29); and multi-award-winning country singer-songwriter Riley Green (Sept. 26).

Mark your calendars now so you don’t have to turn the car around this summer. Prepare to release your inhibitions because we’re gonna have a house party and we do things a little different ‘round here at Nationals Park. Everybody will be livin’ it up and ready to rock wit u, so lace up your Air Force Ones and head to the ballpark for the Nats Summer Concert Series.

Postgame concerts will begin approximately 30 minutes following the final out. Access to the postgame concert is free with a ticket to that day’s game; a limited number of on-field passes are available for purchase. Visit nats.com/SummerConcerts for tickets and information. 

In addition to the Nats Summer Concert Series, a number of world-renowned artists will make tour stops at Nationals Park this year, including Shakira (Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, May 31), Stray Kids (Dominate World Tour, June 23), Billy Joel and Sting (One Night – One Stage, Sept. 5) and The Lumineers (The Automatic World Tour, Sept. 6). With 10 total concerts on tap, 2025 marks Nationals Park’s most musical season yet.  For more information and to purchase tickets, visit nats.com/Concerts.

The Orioles’ 2024 trade deadline was active. 

For the rotation, Baltimore acquired Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers. To shore up the bullpen, a pair of flamethrowers from Philadelphia in Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto. And to supplement a talented outfield, the O’s added Eloy Jiménez, Austin Slater and Cristian Pache. 

But how about a move that didn’t impact the big league roster? 

In late July, it was the move everyone was waiting for. 

The Orioles sent utilityman Billy Cook to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Pat Reilly. 

The Orioles and Red Sox played to a 6-6 tie today at Ed Smith Stadium, which leads into Tuesday’s first off-day.

Here are some nuggets from this afternoon, when the first five innings meant the most to the Orioles:

* Félix Bautista faced three batters in the fifth inning – strikeout, strikeout, ground ball, standing ovation from fans.

This was Bautista’s moment. Everything else that happened was secondary.

Bautista ran the count full to Trayce Thompson and struck him out on a fastball up and away. Nate Eaton swung through a nasty splitter.

The Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles jointly announce the final resolution of all issues related to the MASN dispute.

For the 2025 season, Washington Nationals games will continue to be televised locally exclusively by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) under a new, one-year contract.  After this term, the Nationals will be free to explore alternatives for their television rights for the 2026 season and beyond.  As part of the settlement, all disputes related to past media rights between the Nationals, Orioles, and MASN have been resolved, and all litigation will be dismissed.

The Nationals and Orioles extend their gratitude to Commissioner Manfred and his team at MLB for their efforts in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion.  Both Clubs thank our fans for their support and look forward to continuing their partnership with MASN for the upcoming season.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

Optioned RHP Colin Selby to minor league camp.

Reassigned C Silas Ardoin, RHP Justin Armbruester, OF Dylan Beavers, OF Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF Jud Fabian, LHP Jakob Hernandez, RHP Yaramil Hiraldo, INF Jeremiah Jackson, RHP Robinson Martínez, RHP Carlos Tavera, and RHP Nathan Webb to minor league camp.

The Orioles’ Spring Training roster currently has 58 players (39+19 NRI).

SARASOTA, Fla. – The best season of Keegan Akin’s professional life came with one harsh outcome that he’s able to laugh about five months later.

It took that long.

Pitchers dread the slow walk back to the dugout after surrendering a game-winning run. Head bowed, the roar of the opposing crowd ringing in his ears, reporters seeking an explanation and reaction.

Akin would like to forget, but the reminder has a locker set up on the other side of the spring training clubhouse.

Outfielder Tyler O’Neill punctuated a three-homer series against the Orioles in September by clearing the Green Monster in the 10^th inning. The Red Sox responded to Emmanuel Rivera’s tie-breaking single by taking advantage of a Jackson Holliday error and bringing O’Neill to the plate.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Zach Eflin makes his exhibition debut this afternoon, with the Orioles traveling to Fort Myers to play the Twins.

Gary Sánchez is behind the plate for Eflin.

Coby Mayo gets the start at first base.

Jackson Holliday is leading off and playing second base. Colton Cowser is in center field, Heston Kjerstad in left and Dylan Carlson in right.

Liván Soto, who’s 3-for-6 with two doubles, is the shortstop.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Jake Irvin planned to throw two innings tonight. That would be the standard ramp-up after throwing only one inning in his spring debut five days ago.

Just one problem: Irvin was too good during those two innings. He faced six batters, he retired all six and he needed only 23 pitches to do it.

So the Nationals sent the right-hander back to the mound for an unplanned third inning. At which point the sharpness and efficiency that defined the start of his night eluded him and brought a quick end to his night.

Back-to-back walks with one out in the third raised Irvin’s pitch count to 37 and brought manager Davey Martinez out of the dugout. It wasn’t a big deal; it’s still Feb. 27, after all. But for Irvin, it left a bit of a sour taste in his mouth at night’s end as the Nats took a 4-3 loss at the hands of the Braves.

“I’m excited to ride the wave of the first two innings going into the next one,” Irvin said when asked about the third inning.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Kyle Finnegan was disappointed, but not resentful of the Nationals when they chose to non-tender him three months ago. He understood it was a business decision, and he always left the door open for a return.

So when the All-Star closer walked back through that familiar clubhouse door today after officially re-signing with the Nats, there was nothing but a wide smile on his face.

“They’re making decisions that are what they think are in the best interests, and that doesn’t mean they don’t want you back,” he said. “It’s kind of one of those things that it is what it is. When the non-tender happened, I didn’t have any animosity or anything. I knew they had the potential to be one of the teams in play. So you keep an open mind, and at the end of the day you make the decision that feels right for you and your family.”

For Finnegan, a chance to return to the Nationals for $6 million, even if that was about $2 million to $3 million less than he was likely to earn had they let him go through the arbitration process over the winter, was the right one.

He looked right at home this afternoon in the same clubhouse he called home each of the previous five springs, albeit in a new locker on the other side of the room because his old spot was taken. He’s still wearing his No. 67 jersey. He only had to introduce himself to a few new teammates and staff members. He already knew everyone else.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was asked a few days ago about a drama-free camp, how the only injuries were sustained prior to the report dates. The conversation included warnings about the risks of jinxing it.

Here we are.

We learned earlier today that Jordan Westburg hasn’t played since Saturday due to lower-back soreness. And shortstop Gunnar Henderson exited today’s game after one inning with lower right side discomfort.

No further details are available. Manager Brandon Hyde will provide an update in his post-game media scrum.

Henderson made a nice running grab of Bo Bichette’s line drive in the first. He led off the bottom of the inning with a ground ball to first baseman Will Wagner, who bobbled it and flipped to pitcher Easton Lucas.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nationals play their first night game of the spring, with the Braves making a rare visit from all the way across the state. Atlanta isn’t sending a whole lot of big names, aside from Marcell Ozuna, but they do have Bryce Elder on the mound, which should make for a nice challenge for the Nats lineup.

Davey Martinez does have plenty of regulars in his batting order, pretty much everyone but James Wood (who is set to DH on Friday in his delayed spring debut) and Keibert Ruiz (who caught Wednesday). So we’ll get multiple at-bats tonight from CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, Nathaniel Lowe, Josh Bell and Luis García Jr.

Jake Irvin, meanwhile, becomes the first member of the rotation to make his second start of the spring. The right-hander should be good to go two innings in this one as he continues the slow build-up to regular-season form.

Tonight’s game is available live on MLB Network, if you’re interested in watching.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
Gametime: 6:05 p.m. EST
TV: MLB Network (Braves’ feed)
Radio: MLB.com (Braves’ feed)
Weather: Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, wind 7 mph out to left field

The Washington Nationals will host Negro Leagues Night at Nationals Park on Wednesday, June 18, teaming up the Josh Gibson Foundation to recognize the achievements of the Homestead Grays and Black players in Washington, D.C., prior to MLB’s integration. The evening will feature a pregame panel discussion of the impacts of the Negro Leagues in American baseball as well as a Josh Gibson bobblehead giveaway. To join the celebration of Black history and culture, visit nats.com/Promotions.

As part of Negro Leagues Night, the Nationals will host a panel, including Sean Gibson, great-grandson of Josh Gibson and other distinguished guests, to discuss last year’s inclusion of the Negro Leagues statistics into the Major League Baseball record books, the way that the Negro Leagues shaped baseball today and more. The pregame panel is open to all fans with a ticket to that day’s 6:45 p.m. matchup versus the Rockies.

Additionally, 20,000 fans in attendance for that evening’s game will receive a Josh Gibson bobblehead. One of the greatest home run hitters and most feared sluggers of any era, Gibson began his career in 1930 and played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays through 1946. The catcher from Buena Vista, Ga., was a 12-time All-Star, two-time Negro Leagues World Series champion, three-time Negro National League batting champion, two-time Triple Crown winner and, in 1972, became the second Negro Leagues player to be inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

In May 2024, Major League Baseball officially incorporated statistics from the Negro Leagues, which resulted in Gibson becoming MLB’s career leader in multiple offensive categories. With a .372 career batting average, he officially surpassed Ty Cobb (.367) as the all-time career leader in average. Often called the “Black Babe Ruth,” Gibson also overtook Ruth’s records as the career leader in slugging percentage (.718 vs. .690) and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.177 vs. 1.164). He also holds the all-time single-season record in those same categories. Gibson’s statue outside Nationals Park recognizes his Hall of Fame career, and he is one of six Grays players featured in the Ring of Honor. Gibson is also featured in the Homestead Grays exhibit in the ballpark’s Champions Club.

“Josh’s family and the Foundation are grateful that the Nationals are honoring the Negro Leagues and Josh on June 18,” said Sean Gibson, Executive Director, Josh Gibson Foundation. “For Josh and the Grays, Washington was their second home from 1940 onward. They played proudly before the local fans, delivering them multiple championships, and for Washington to celebrate their legacy and serve the community as we at the Foundation seek to do, well, it does justice to their memory. Thank you to the Nationals, and we look forward to a long partnership together.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nationals officially announced the re-signing of Kyle Finnegan this afternoon, but to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for their returning closer they made the surprising decision to designate outfielder Stone Garrett for assignment.

Finnegan agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract Tuesday, ending a three-month saga that began with the Nats non-tendering the All-Star reliever but ultimately bringing him back at a lower salary than he would have received via the arbitration process. He’ll report to CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches today and begin to get himself ready to pitch in spring training games and reassume the club’s ninth-inning role heading into the season.

The Nationals had several options when it came to clearing a 40-man spot for Finnegan. They could have placed right-hander Cade Cavalli (who is not expected to pitch in the big leagues for several months) on the 60-day injured list, or they could have designated another pitcher for assignment.

In the end, they chose to cut a position player, one who was attempting to make it back to the majors full-time 18 months after suffering a gruesome injury.

Garrett was developing into a productive hitter for the Nats in the summer of 2023 before he attempted to make a leaping catch at the wall in Yankee Stadium in late-August and crumbled to the ground in agony, breaking his left fibula and tearing his ankle ligaments.

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Kyle Finnegan on a one-year contract and designated Stone Garrett for assignment on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

A National League All-Star in 2024, Finnegan, 33, rejoins the Nationals after he ranked third in Major League Baseball with a career-high 38 saves last season. Those 38 saves were the fourth-most in a season in Nationals history (2005-pres.). He finished the year with a 3.68 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 63.2 innings, including an 11.0-inning hitless streak from April 13-May 8, the second longest hitless streak in team history (2005-pres.).

Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Finnegan’s 266 relief outings rank tied for sixth in Major League Baseball, while his 88 saves rank ninth. He is also the only pitcher in baseball during that span to save 70 games and collect at least 35 holds.

After signing with Washington as free agent in December of 2019, Finnegan has gone 22-26 with a 3.56 ERA and 288 strikeouts in 290.1 innings. During his five seasons in Washington, he’s pitched in 291 games and collected 88 career saves, both good for third in Nationals history. He has also been voted Nationals Pitcher of the Year by the D.C. Media three times (2022, 2023, 2024) and is one of only two pitchers to have won the award more than once.

A native of Detroit, Mich., Finnegan was originally selected by the Athletics in the sixth round of the 2013 First Year Player Draft out of Texas State University.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – As he frequently heaped praise upon the majority of the players on his roster last spring, Davey Martinez also found himself regularly criticizing one guy in particular. Luis García Jr. seemed to be on the hot seat throughout camp, hearing it from his manager whenever he misplayed a ball at second base or was thrown out on the bases.

To be clear, García did commit more of those kinds of infractions than most. But Martinez’s response wasn’t an attempt to boost the young player’s spirits, but rather to put added pressure on him with not-so-veiled suggestions his job was in jeopardy.

“That can’t happen,” Martinez said at one point in March 2024 after a series of mistakes by García. “We talked about that with him. We’ve got to be beyond that now with him. I mean, like I said, he’s not a rookie. He’s been in this league now for a while. Those things cannot happen.”

Looking back on it all now, one year later, both manager and player can smile and acknowledge how much has changed. García took the criticism to heart and put together the breakthrough season the Nationals long believed he had in him. And Martinez can take some solace in knowing his tough-love approach seems to have worked as he hoped it would.

“I just really felt that it was the right moment,” the manager said this week. “I had him now for over four years. He was very young, so we tried to groom him to be the everyday second baseman. And last year, I knew the talent was there. I always told him: ‘You can hit. You just give away too many at-bats. You can play second base. You’re just not ready to play it every pitch.’ We talked a lot with him about being fundamentally ready, to be engaged every single pitch. …

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – It was a two-out walk in the first inning on Feb. 26. Not that big a deal, right?

For DJ Herz, it was a big deal. Not because the result of today’s exhibition game – a 3-0 loss to the Astros – was important. But because he knows two-out walks are among his biggest bugaboos, something the young left-hander is really trying to focus on correcting this year.

“Obviously, we don’t want to do the two-out walks,” Herz said. “A lot of weird stuff happens when that happens.”

What happened after this two-out walk of Isaac Paredes? A two-run homer by Yainer Diaz. Then back-to-back singles. And suddenly, what could’ve been a quick, 1-2-3 top of the first turned into a laborious 24-pitch frame.

So, even though the game didn’t count, is the two-out walk in spring training that important?

BRADENTON, Fla. – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde offered simple instructions this morning for Tomoyuki Sugano before the Japanese right-hander’s much-anticipated exhibition debut. Just go out, relax and pitch.

Keep it simple, Sugano.

“It’s a first spring training outing, so it doesn’t mean anything,” Hyde explained. “Just want him to get his work in.”

The Orioles hoped that Sugano would throw 35-40 pitches. He needed only six to complete the first, all of them strikes, but was extended to 22 in the second while escaping a two-out jam.

Tommy Pham led off the bottom of the first with a broken-bat infield single, but Bryan Reynolds grounded into a 4-6-3 double play started by Jackson Holliday. Sugano retired the first two batters in the second before former Oriole Adam Frazier singled and Isiah Kiner-Falefa walked. Holliday ranged to his left to field Darick Hall’s bouncer with the count full.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Juan Yepez didn’t enter the 2024 season as the Nationals’ starting first baseman. He didn’t even enter the season on the Nationals’ major league roster.

But as Joey Gallo dealt with injuries and Joey Meneses dealt with struggles, Yepez found his way to D.C. and ultimately a semi-regular spot in the lineup. He finished the year with a respectable .764 OPS, providing quality production at the plate, especially against left-handers.

But when the season ended, the Nats knew they needed to upgrade at first base. So they traded for Nathaniel Lowe, then also signed Josh Bell to return (though primarily as designated hitter).

Which leaves Yepez … where, exactly? Competing for a utility role.

“We’ve got to see if he can play multiple positions,” manager Davey Martinez said. “We’re looking for that guy who can do a bunch of different things. … And he deserves a chance to make this team. He played really well for us last year in a limited role. If he can do all these little things – we’ll try him out in left field, we’ll put him at third base, play first base as well – we’ll see how he does.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The undefeated Nationals have looked good so far in the early stages of the exhibition season, especially a lineup that has scored 31 runs in three games. That group has done well in the first inning, scoring five runs against the Mets and three runs against the Marlins.

The challenge is quite a bit tougher this afternoon when the Nats face Astros ace Framber Valdez. The veteran left-hander will be on the mound for his first outing of the spring, facing a lineup featuring a few regulars.

Those regulars include CJ Abrams, Luis García Jr., Keibert Ruiz and Nathaniel Lowe at the top of the order. The bottom of the order includes a familiar name in an unfamiliar position: Juan Yepez in left field. Given the offseason additions of Lowe and Josh Bell, Yepez’s only real shot of making the team is to prove he can adequately play something other than first base. So he’ll get a shot this afternoon in the outfield. He’s also been taking some reps at third base during workouts.

DJ Herz makes his spring debut on the mound. The young lefty seemingly is competing with fellow young lefties Mitchell Parker and Shinnosuke Ogasawara for the No. 5 starter’s job, but it’s still too early in camp to see exactly how that will all play out. For now, the Nationals just want Herz to throw strikes and pitch with some consistency as he tries to prove he’s the right man for the job.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. HOUSTON ASTROS
Where: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EST
TV: None
Radio: MLB.com (Astros’ feed)
Weather: Partly cloudy, 73 degrees, wind 10 mph in from center field

JUPITER, Fla. – It’s only three games, and it’s only spring training, so take everything with a healthy grain of salt. Now, having made that all-important caveat, here’s what you should know: The Nationals are off to a great start to the Grapefruit League season.

With convincing victories over the Astros, Mets and Marlins, the Nats are 3-0 in exhibition play, having outscored their opponents 31-16. They’re averaging more than 10 runs scored per game. And their starting pitching, while taking on a minimal workload at this early stage, has pitched quite well.

“We’re really preaching getting good pitches to hit,” manager Davey Martinez said. “We’re getting balls in the zone, and we’re making good contact, which is great. That’s what we’re talking about: We’ve got to have better swing decisions. And the last couple days, I’ve seen a lot better decision-making when the ball’s in the zone.”

As a team, the Nationals are batting .321 (second-best in the majors), with a .419 on-base percentage (best in the majors) and .924 OPS (also best in the majors). They’re the only team averaging 10 runs per game. They’re even a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen base attempts.

There’s plenty to like on an individual level, as well. Andres Chaparro is 4-for-7 with a homer and four RBIs. Jacob Young is 3-for-6 with a homer and two steals. Dylan Crews is 3-for-6 with a triple, an RBI, two walks and two steals. Robert Hassell III is 4-for-9 with two doubles, a homer, five RBIs and a steal. Josh Bell is 3-for-7 with a double, two RBIs and a walk. Nathaniel Lowe has reached base in all three of his plate appearances. Alex Call has reached base in five of his.