Nationals announce 2025 home game times

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The Washington Nationals today announced the first pitch times for the team’s 2025 home games. The team will open its 20th Anniversary Season at home with a three-game set against the division rival Philadelphia Phillies, beginning with a 4:05 p.m. Opening Day matchup on Thursday, March 27. It marks the second time the Nationals have hosted the Phillies to open the season and will be the earliest start to a season in Nationals history.

The club’s home game times will remain the same during the upcoming season, with evening games beginning at 6:45 p.m., Saturday afternoon games starting at 4:05 p.m., Sunday games at 1:35 p.m., and most weekday afternoon games at 12:05 or 1:05 p.m.

For the 13th consecutive season, the Nationals will kickstart MLB’s slate of Fourth of July games, hosting the Red Sox for a special 11:05 a.m. game in the nation’s capital. The Nationals’ July Fourth gameday experience will once again extend to Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar, for the third edition of Nats on Base Abroad. Members of the Nationals front office and special guests will travel to the air base to host a number of events leading up to a watch party for the July Fourth game, including a full program of pregame activations and activities.

Click HERE to view the full schedule.

Nationals Parks gates will continue to open 75 minutes prior to scheduled first pitch for all games, unless otherwise noted. All gate and game times are subject to change. The full 2025 schedule, including start times for home games, is attached. Games, times and other information is subject to change.

Nationals announce 2024 Media Awards

The Washington Nationals announced the winners of the ninth-annual end-of-season awards, as voted on by members of the local media on Friday. In the closest voting in the nine-year history of the awards, infielder Luis García Jr. was voted the 2024 Nationals Player of the Year, while right-handed pitcher Kyle Finnegan was named Pitcher of the Year. Outfielder Jacob Young was given the Good Guy Award, presented to a player for his always-professional dealings with members of the media, his work in the community and for representing the Nationals organization with class both on and off the field. All three awards were decided by one vote.

García Jr., 24, was named Player of the Year for the first time after he produced just the second 15 home run-20 stolen base season by a Nationals second baseman. He enters Friday leading the Nationals in batting average (.278), RBI (68), OBP (.315), slugging percentage (.438), OPS (.753) and hits (135). He also ranks in the top three in doubles (2nd, 25), extra-base hits (2nd, 43), total bases (2nd, 213) and runs (3rd, 55). García Jr. set career highs in 2024 in games (137), at-bats (486), hits, doubles, home runs (17), RBI, walks (27) [matches a career high] and stolen bases (21) in 2024.

García Jr. is just one of seven players in Major League Baseball hitting over .275 with 40 extra-base hits and 20 stolen bases entering Friday. He ranks second among National League second basemen in slugging percentage, batting average, RBI and OPS and third in home runs. 

In addition to his career-year at the plate, García Jr. has put together his best defensive season with five outs above average and four runs prevented at second base.

Signed by the Nationals as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2016, García Jr. is slashing .269/.301/.408 with 90 doubles, nine triples, 41 home runs, 201 RBI, 81 walks, 34 stolen bases, and 192 runs scored in 462 career games over parts of five Major League seasons. 

Nationals announce 2024 minor league awards

Standouts from across the Washington Nationals Minor League system will be recognized as part of a special pregame ceremony on Tuesday, as the club recognizes its 2024 Minor League Award winners. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Vice President and Assistant General Manager, Player Development & Administration Eddie Longosz selected the following players in recognition of their outstanding 2024 seasons.

  • Hitter of the Year – Outfielder Dylan Crews
  • Pitcher of the Year – Right-handed pitcher Travis Sykora
  • Defensive Player of the Year – Outfielder Elijah Green
  • Baserunner of the Year – Infielder/Outfielder Darren Baker
  • Nationals Way Award – Outfielder Daylen Lile and Right-handed pitcher Brad Lord

Crews, 22, is currently the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLBPipeline.com and the No. 3 prospect, according to Baseball America. He ranked in Washington’s Minor League system in extra-base hits (2nd, 40), triples (2nd, 6), slugging percentage (3rd, .451), OPS (3rd, .793), RBI (3rd, 68), doubles (T3rd, 21), home runs (4th, 13), average (4th, .270) and stolen bases (T4th, 25) prior to his Major League call-up on Aug. 26. For his efforts in the first half of the season, Crews was selected to represent the Nationals in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game in July.

Crews finished his 2024 Minor League campaign hitting .270 with 21 doubles, six triples, 13 home runs, 68 RBI, 36 walks, 25 stolen bases and 60 runs scored in 100 games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester. Crews hit .309 (21-for-68) with a .385 on-base percentage (5 BB, 4 HBP) and a .529 slugging percentage (2B, 3B, 4 HR) in 16 games from Aug. 3-Aug. 23 before joining Washington. He reached base safely in all 16 of those games and hit safely in 13 of the 16.

Crews was the second overall pick in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Louisiana State University, where he made his mark as one of the most accomplished and decorated players in the history of college baseball. In addition to leading LSU to the 2023 National Championship, he was a consensus First-Team All-American in 2023 and 2022 and became the first player to win Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in back-to-back-seasons (2022, 2023).

Sykora, 20, was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Year after going 5-3 with a 2.33 ERA, 129 strikeouts and 27 walks in 85.0 innings across 20 starts for Single-A Fredericksburg in his first professional season. From his debut on May 1 through the end of the season, Sykora led all Minor League pitchers (min. 85.0 IP) with a .168 opponent’s batting average and 5.29 hits per 9.0 innings, while he ranked among them in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (2nd, 13.66) and WHIP (3rd, 0.91). His 129 strikeouts paced all of Single-A and ranked fourth among Nationals Minor Leaguers, despite his later start.

Nationals reinstate Trevor Williams, option Zach Brzykcy

The Washington Nationals returned from rehab assignment and reinstated right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams from the 60-day Injured List and optioned right-handed pitcher Zach Brzykcy to Triple-A Rochester on Friday. Additionally, the Nationals transferred right-handed pitcher Joan Adon to the 60-day Injured List. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Williams, 32, went 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA in 11 starts prior to being placed on the Injured List with a right flexor muscle strain on June 4. He struck out 47 batters, walked 16 and allowed just two home runs in 56.2 innings as the Nationals went 9-2 in his 11 starts prior to the injury. Williams allowed two earned runs or fewer in nine starts and pitched to 1.80 ERA (6 ER/30.0 IP) in his last six starts.

Williams made two rehab starts with Double-A Harrisburg. He tossed 7.1 innings across two starts on Sept. 10 and Sept. 15.

In two seasons with the Nationals, Williams is 11-10 with a 4.61 ERA in 41 starts. He is in his ninth professional season and is 49-54 with a 4.34 ERA in 200 career games (159 starts).

Brzykcy, 25, appeared in six games out of Washington’s bullpen. He made his Major League debut on Sept. 1 vs. Chicago (NL).

Nationals reinstate Joey Gallo and Robert Garcia

The Washington Nationals made the following roster moves on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

  • Returned from rehabilitation assignment and reinstated first baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo from the 10-day Injured List
  • Reinstated left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia from the Bereavement List
  • Optioned outfielder/designated hitter Travis Blankenhorn to Triple-A Rochester
  • Optioned right-handed pitcher Orlando Ribalta to Triple-A Rochester

Gallo, 30, returns to the active roster after being placed on the Injured list with a left hamstring strain on June 12. He appeared in 11 games for the Red Wings while on rehab assignment, going 7-for-34 (.206) with three homers, eight RBI, 11 walks and nine runs scored along the way. He appeared in right field (4 G), as designated hitter (5 G) and at first base (1 G).

Garcia, 28, ranks sixth among Major League left-handed relievers with 11.60 strikeouts per nine innings this season. He’s appeared in a career-high 56 games and has recorded a career-high 11 holds in 2024.

Blankenhorn, 28, has hit .129 (4-for-31) with a double, five RBI, one walk and two runs scored in 13 games with the Nationals this season.

Ribalta, 26, pitched in two games out of Washington’s bullpen. He made his Major League debut on Aug. 13 at Baltimore.

Nationals select the contracts of Andrés Chaparro and Orlando Ribalta

The Washington Nationals selected the contracts of infielder Andrés Chaparro and right-handed pitcher Orlando Ribalta, and designated Harold Ramírez and Jordan Weems for assignment on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Chaparro, 25, joins Washington for the first Major League stint of his career after he was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitcher Dylan Floro on July 30. This season, Chaparro ranks among all full-season Minor Leaguers in hits (1st, 132), total bases (3rd, 230), RBI (T3rd, 85), extra-base hits (5th, 51), OPS (6th, .977), slugging percentage (8th, .572), home runs (T8th, 23), runs (T9th, 76) and batting average (10th, .328) in 105 games between Triple-A Reno and Rochester. 

The El Vigia, Venezuela, native homered in four-straight games for Rochester from Aug. 7-9, including in both halves of a doubleheader on Aug. 7 at Buffalo (TOR) and his 100th career Minor League homer on Aug. 9 against the Bisons. In all, Chaparro slashed .286/.419/.657 with a double, four home runs, 10 RBI, eight walks and seven runs scored in 10 games for the Red Wings.

Since the beginning of the 2023 season, Chaparro ranks in all of Minor League Baseball in RBI (T3rd,174), hits (8th, 261) and home runs (T8th, 48).

Originally signed by the New York Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in 2016, Chaparro slashed .263/.350/.459 with 125 doubles, 11 triples, 100 home runs, 394 RBI, 19 stolen bases, 282 walks and 364 runs scored in eight Minor League seasons between the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Nationals organizations.

Nationals acquire infielder Andrés Chaparro from Diamondbacks for Dylan Floro

The Washington Nationals acquired infielder Andrės Chaparro from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitcher Dylan Floro on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Chaparro, 25, is hitting .332 with 26 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs, 75 RBI, 41 walks, three stolen bases and 69 runs scored in 95 games for Triple-A Reno. He leads Arizona’s system in average, on-base percentage (.403) and hits (122) and ranks in runs scored (2nd), slugging percentage (3rd, .564), OPS (3rd, .967), doubles (3rd), extra-base hits (3rd, 46) RBI (3rd) and home runs (T4th).

Chaparro joined the Diamondbacks system after spending his first six professional seasons (2017-23) in the New York Yankees system. He is a career .265/.351/.466 hitter with 115 doubles, six triples, 96 home runs, 358 RBI and 249 walks in 567 career Minor League games. 

A native of El Viga, Venezuela, Chaparro was signed by the New York Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2015.

Floro, 33, went 3-3 with a 2.06 ERA in 51 games out of Washington’s bullpen in 2024.

Nationals select contract of Travis Blankenhorn and recall Joan Adon

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of outfielder Travis Blankenhorn and recalled right-handed pitcher Joan Adon from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Blankenhorn, 27, joins Washington for the first time this season after he led the Nationals organization and ranked fourth in all of Minor League Baseball with 24 home runs. Blankenhorn also ranked tied for sixth in all of the Minors in extra-base hits with 47 and led Washington’s system in RBI (69), slugging (.518), doubles (22) and runs (58). In all, he hit .246 with 22 doubles, a triple, 24 homers, 69 RBI, 38 walks, two stolen bases and 58 runs for the Red Wings this year.

Over his last two Triple-A seasons, the Pottsville, Pa. native has homered 47 times, tied for third-most in Triple-A and tied for ninth-most in all of Minor League Baseball. Blankenhorn’s 99 extra-base hits over the last two years rank third in Triple-A and tied for sixth in all of the Minors.

Blankenhorn played in 10 games for Washington in 2023. His contract was selected on September 1 and he became the 13th player in Nationals history (2005-pres.) to homer in his team debut when he hit a solo shot against Miami at Nationals Park. He finished the season batting .161 with a home run, one RBI, six walks and two runs scored.

Adon, 25, returns for his third stint with the Nationals this season. He has posted a 5.40 ERA (3 ER / 5.0 IP) with three strikeouts in two games at the Major League level.

Nationals acquire three prospects in exchange for Lane Thomas

The Washington Nationals acquired left-handed pitcher Alex Clemmey, infielder José Tena and infielder Rafael Ramirez Jr. from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for outfielder Lane Thomas on Monday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Clemmey, is Cleveland’s No. 7 prospect according to Baseball America and its No. 8 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com In his first professional season, Clemmey has struck out 97 batters with a .214 opponents’ batting average in 69.1 innings pitched for Single-A Lynchburg. His 97 strikeouts rank third in the Carolina League and fifth among Guardians farmhands. On the season, he is 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA in 19 starts. Baseball America also cites Clemmey as having the “Best Curveball” among Cleveland Minor Leaguers.

The 6-foot-6, 205-pound Clemmey has pitched to a 2.28 ERA (11 ER/43.1 IP) with 63 strikeouts, a 1.18 WHIP, a .185 opponents’ average and just two home runs allowed in his last 11 starts since May 24. During this stretch, he tossed 4.2 shutout innings with eight strikeouts and three hits on June 12 vs. Augusta (ATL) and on July 5 vs. Salem (BOS), he struck out seven batters in 4.0 no-hit innings. He kicked off the strong run with 5.0 innings of one-hit, shutout ball on May 24 at Fredericksburg (WSH).

The 19-year-old was Cleveland’s second-round pick (No. 58 overall) in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Bishop Hendricken (RI) High School. He was named Rhode Island's 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year after finishing his senior year with a 9-1 record and 0.42 ERA (2 ER/43.0 IP) with 105 strikeouts in 10 starts. Clemmey was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 49 prospect in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft and the No. 3 high school left-handed pitcher in the draft, according to Perfect Game.

Tena, 23, leads Cleveland’s Minor League system with 110 hits and ranks in home runs (2nd, 17), RBI (3rd, 63), extra-base hits (4th, 36), batting average (4th, .298), slugging percentage (6th, .493) and OPS (6th, .846). He’s clubbed 17 doubles and recorded 14 stolen bases in 90 games for Triple-A Columbus this season. Tena is a career .286/.339/.443 hitter with 109 doubles, 22 triples, 57 home runs, 152 walks, 64 stolen bases and 304 runs scored in 520 games across five Minor League seasons.

Nationals recall DJ Herz

The Washington Nationals recalled left-handed pitcher DJ Herz from Triple-A Rochester and optioned right-handed pitcher Eduardo Salazar to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Herz will start tonight against the San Diego Padres.

Herz, 23, returns to Washington for his second Major League stint this season. He struck out 41 in 31.1 innings over his first seven career starts from June 4 to July 7. He struck out 13 hitters in 6.0 innings in his first MLB win against Miami on June 15 and fanned 10 in 5.2 innings against the New York Mets on July 2. In all, Herz has gone 1-3 with a 5.17 ERA for the Nationals this year.

Herz was 3-3 with a 3.89 ERA, 44 strikeouts and a .176 opponents’ batting average in 10 starts for the Red Wings this season. Over his last five starts, he went 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA (7 ER/21.1 IP), 27 strikeouts and a .151 average against. In his last start before being recalled, Herz pitched 3.1 innings, struck out two and allowed two runs on two hits on July 14.

Herz leads all of Minor League Baseball with a .176 opponents’ batting average and is third with 13.01 strikeouts per 9.0 innings since the start of the 2021 season (min. 250.0 IP). In parts of five Minor League seasons, Herz is 13-17 with a 3.67 ERA with 457 strikeouts in 321.0 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .178 batting average. 

Salazar, 26, pitched in two games for Washington. He worked 4.0 innings, struck out seven and allowed one unearned run on three hits.

Nationals select shortstop Seaver King

The Washington Nationals selected collegiate shortstop Seaver King out of Wake Forest University with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft on Sunday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Vice President, Amateur Scouting Danny Haas, Senior Director, Amateur Scouting Brad Ciolek, and Assistant Director and National Crosschecker, Amateur Scouting Reed Dunn made the joint announcement.

King, 21, hit .308 with 14 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 64 RBI, 25 walks, 11 stolen bases and 59 runs scored in 60 games as he helped lead Wake Forest to the Greenville Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. He posted a .377 on-base percentage, .577 slugging percentage and recorded a hit in 48 games, including 24 multi-hit performances. King recorded 21 multi-RBI games including eight games with three or more. He reached base safely in 31 straight games during the 2024 campaign (April 2-May 25), posting an 11-game hit streak (April 6-23) and a 16-game hit streak (April 27-May 24) during that span. 

The No. 17 draft prospect according to Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com, King was a Dick Howser Trophy (top collegiate player) semifinalist and garnered Third-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after his junior season. Prior to the start of his junior campaign, he was named Preseason Third-Team All-America by D1Baseball.com.

Between his sophomore and junior seasons, King played for Harwich in the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he slashed .424/.479/.542 with four doubles, one homer, nine RBI, five stolen bases, seven walks and 15 runs scored in 16 games.

Standing at six-foot, 195-pounds, King began his collegiate career at Wingate (N.C.) University, where he had a 47-game hitting streak as a sophomore in 2023, the third-longest hitting streak in Division II history. He went on to lead Wingate in batting average (.411), slugging (.699), on-base percentage (.457), runs (63), hits (90), RBI (53), doubles (20), triples (5), home runs (11), total bases (153) and stolen bases (13). Following the season, he was named to the USA Baseball Collegiate Team.

Nationals recall Amos Willingham

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Amos Willingham from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Willingham, 25, joins the Nationals after not allowing an earned run across his last five appearances (6.0 IP) with Rochester and having surrendered just two hits with eight strikeouts and four walks along the way. Willingham is 2-3 with a 4.54 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 32 relief outings (39.2 IP) for the Red Wings in 2024, having tossed more than 1.0 inning in 14 of his 32 appearances.

A 17th-round pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, Willingham made his Major League debut in 2023, appearing in 18 games across four Major League stints. He threw more than 1.0 inning in eight of his 18 outings, including 3.0 scoreless innings on Sept. 2 vs. Miami. At the Minor League level, he went 5-1 with five saves and a 2.02 ERA in 28 games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester in 2023.

Nationals top prospects to participate in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game

Washington Nationals top prospects outfielder James Wood, outfielder Dylan Crews and third baseman Brady House have been selected to represent the organization in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on July 13. Major League Baseball made the announcement Tuesday on MLB Network.” The 25th All-Star Futures Game features the top Minor League prospects competing as part of All-Star Saturday.

Wood, 21, is the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball, according to Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com. He leads Washington’s Minor League system and ranks among all Minor League hitters in batting average (2nd, .353), on-base percentage (2nd, .463), OPS (2nd, 1.058) and slugging percentage (9th, .595). He hit .353 with 16 doubles, 10 home runs, 37 RBI, 40 walks, 10 stolen bases and 44 runs scored in 52 games for Triple-A Rochester this year. Wood made his Major League debut last night, going 1-for-4 with a walk.

The six-foot-seven, 234-pound left-handed hitting outfielder was named the International League Player of the Week on May 13 after going 10-for-22 (.455) with a double and five home runs. He later earned Player of the Month honors after slashing .394/.506/.746 with four doubles, seven home runs, 22 RBI, 17 walks and 18 runs scored during the month of May.

Wood participated in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. He walked in two plate appearances.

Crews, 22, is the No. 5 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com. He ranks in Washington’s Minor League system in RBI (3rd, 45), stolen bases (T3rd, 18), triples (T3rd, 3), OPS (4th, .788), slugging percentage (4th, .442), extra-base hits (T5th, 24), total bases (5th, 106), batting average (7th, .271), doubles (T7th, 14), home runs (T8th, 7), hits (T8th, 65) and runs (T8th, 37).

Nationals recall Trey Lipscomb, place Joey Gallo on injured list

The Washington Nationals recalled infielder Trey Lipscomb from Triple-A Rochester and placed first baseman Joey Gallo on the 10-day Injured List with a left hamstring strain on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Lipscomb, 23, joins the Nationals for the third time this year, having hit .252 with a double, home run, nine RBI, 11 walks, 10 stolen bases and 16 runs scored in 33 Major League games this season. His 10 stolen bases still rank third among Major League rookies. Lipscomb has seen time at third base (29 G/27 GS), first base (4 G/2 GS) and second base (2 G/2 GS) with the Nationals earlier this season.

In 24 games with Triple-A Rochester, Lipscomb hit .247 with four doubles, eight RBI, four walks, two stolen bases and eight runs scored.

Lipscomb was Washington’s 2023 Minor League Defensive Player of the Year and the winner of the Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award for third basemen. In his first full professional season in 2023, he led Nationals Minor Leaguers with 139 hits and 29 doubles while ranking fourth in average (.272), and RBI (72) and tied for fourth in home runs (14).

A native of Frederick, Maryland, and graduate of Urbana High School, Lipscomb was selected in the third round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Tennessee.

Nats place Trevor Williams on IL, recall DJ Herz from Triple-A Rochester

The Washington Nationals recalled left-handed pitcher DJ Herz from Triple-A Rochester and placed right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams on the 15-day Injured List (retroactive to June 1) with a right flexor muscle strain on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Herz will start and make his Major League debut tonight against the New York Mets at Nationals Park.

Herz, 23, is 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA, 42 strikeouts and a .177 opponents’ batting average in nine starts for the Red Wings this season. Over his last four starts, Herz is 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA (5 ER/18.0 IP), 25 strikeouts and a .148 average against. In his last start on May 30 vs. St. Paul (MIN), he struck out 10 and allowed one run on two hits and one walk in 5.1 innings.

Herz leads all of Minor League Baseball with a .176 opponents’ batting average and is third with 13.09 strikeouts per 9.0 innings since the start of the 2021 season (min. 250.0 IP). In parts of five Minor League seasons, Herz is 13-16 with a 3.65 ERA with 455 strikeouts in 317.2 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .178 batting average.

Originally an eighth-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in 2019 from Sanford High School in Fayetteville, N.C., Herz was acquired by the Nationals on July 31, 2023, with Kevin Made in exchange for Jeimer Candelario. He is currently ranked as the Nationals No. 12 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

Williams, 32, is 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA (14 ER / 56.2 IP), 47 strikeouts and 16 walks in 11 starts this season.

Nationals recall Drew Millas

The Washington Nationals recalled catcher Drew Millas from Triple-A Rochester and optioned catcher Riley Adams to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Millas, 26, joins the Nationals for the third time this season after hitting .308 with six doubles, five homers, 22 RBI, eight walks, five stolen bases and 11 runs scored in 30 games for the Red Wings. He hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, going 12-for-36 (.333) with a double and eight RBI during that stretch.

Millas appeared in two games with Washington in his first two stints of the season. He made his Major League debut in 2023 after his contract was selected on August 28. Millas hit safely in six of his first eight starts, including each of his first four. In 11 Major League games last year, Millas hit .286 (8-for-28) with two doubles, a home run, six RBI, four walks and a run scored.

Adams, 27, appeared in 25 games for the Nationals this season. He hit .215 with five doubles, two homers, six RBI, seven walks, one stolen base and six runs scored.

Nationals and Orioles announce "2024 Beltway Series: Cities Connected"

When the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles face each other for the first time in 2024, they will honor their respective fans and cities in a special way by taking part in 2024 BELTWAY SERIES: CITIES CONNECTED. Both teams will don their popular City Connect uniforms during Game 1 of the Beltway Series presented by INOVA at Nationals Park on Tuesday, May 7, at 6:45 p.m.

As part of 2024 BELTWAY SERIES: CITIES CONNECTED, the Nationals and Orioles will celebrate their joint commitment to youth baseball and softball access, as members of both clubs’ Nike RBI programs will join together for pregame ceremonies. Nationals Philanthropies will make a charitable contribution to Harlem Park Elementary Middle School in West Baltimore – the Orioles’ adopted school, while Baltimore will reciprocate with a contribution to the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy – the signature program of Nationals Philanthropies – when the Nationals visit Baltimore later this season.

Launched in 2022, the Nationals’ cherry blossom-themed City Connect uniforms celebrate hope and new beginnings, symbolized by the beautiful gift from the people Japan that lines the Tidal Basin and brings together individuals from around the world. The architectural typeface on the jersey represents the city’s strength, while the tonal floral toile is a symbol of its beauty. The pink and ivory color palette, which evokes the feeling of spring in D.C., is set against a dark anthracite background. Cherry blossom petals and branches, as well as the city flag, are prominently displayed, showcasing the pride the Nationals have for their hometown.

The Orioles debuted their City Connect uniforms in 2023, turning to the people of Baltimore for inspiration. The inner tapestry design reflects the neighborhoods that make up the vibrant, bustling metropolis of more than 3 million people. The uniform celebrates the vision that the city and team share of colorful, color blind, vibrant and open community that celebrates differences and defends equal access to fundamental American freedoms.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit nats.com/Tickets.

Nationals reinstate Keibert Ruiz

The Washington Nationals returned from rehabilitation assignment reinstated catcher Keibert Ruiz from the 10-day Injured List and optioned catcher Drew Millas to Triple-A Rochester on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
 
Ruiz, 25, returns after missing 11 games with influenza. He appeared in two rehab games with Double-A Harrisburg this week. Prior to being placed on the Injured List, Ruiz was hitting .194 with a homer, three RBI, two walks and two runs scored in his first eight games of the season.
 
Millas, 26, appeared in one game during his second Major League stint this season.

Nationals select contract of Jacob Barnes, place Robert Garcia on IL

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Jacob Barnes and placed left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia on the 15-day Injured List (retroactive to April 21) with influenza on Tuesday. To make room on the 40-man roster, Washington designed infielder/outfielder Jake Alu for assignment. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
 
Barnes, 34, allowed just one hit with 10 strikeouts in 8.0 innings of scoreless relief for Triple-A Rochester. He converted both save opportunities and walked just two batters in seven appearances out of the bullpen. He last pitched on April 19 vs. Toledo (CLE), tossing perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to record his second save of the season.
 
A non-roster invite to 2024 Major League Spring Training, Barnes posted a 0.87 ERA (1 ER/10.1 IP) with 15 strikeouts, three walks and a .175 opponents’ average (7-for-40) in nine Grapefruit League appearances.
 
Barnes has appeared in 265 Major League games for eight teams across eight seasons. He has a career 8-17 record with seven saves and a 4.76 ERA with the St. Louis Cardinals (2023), New York Yankees (22), Detroit Tigers (2022), Toronto Blue Jays (2021), New York Mets (2021), Los Angeles Angels (2020), Kansas City Royals (2019) and Milwaukee Brewers (2016-19).
 
Garcia, 27, went 0-1 with a 6.48 with 11 appearances out of Washington’s bullpen.
 
Alu, 27, did not appear in a game for the Nationals in 2024.

Nationals announce roster moves

The Washington Nationals made the following roster moves on Monday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

  • Recalled left-handed pitcher Mitchell Parker from Triple-A Rochester
  • Recalled catcher Drew Millas from Triple-A Rochester
  • Returned infielder Nick Senzel from rehab and reinstated him from the Injured List
  • Optioned infielder Trey Lipscomb to Triple-A Rochester
  • Placed catcher Keibert Ruiz on the 10-day Injured List retroactive to April 12 with Influenza
  • Optioned right-handed pitcher Amos Willingham to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday 

A fifth-round pick by the Nationals in 2020, Parker, 24, receives his first call to the Major Leagues and is scheduled to make his debut tonight in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. Coming into the season, he ranked among all Minor League pitchers in opponents’ slugging percentage (2nd, .351), strikeouts per 9.0 innings (3rd, 11.36), strikeouts (T5th, 411), home runs (6th, 28) and opponents’ batting average (11th, .237) since the start of 2021. Parker led all Minor League left-handed pitchers in opponents’ slugging, strikeouts per 9.0 and was tied for the lead in strikeouts over that stretch. 

Parker is set to become the 27th pitcher drafted or signed and developed by Washington to start a game for the club since 2005. Fellow San Jacinto College (TX) alum Jackson Rutledge was the most recent pitcher to do so. 

Parker threw 4.0 innings, struck out five and allowed one unearned run on one hit in his only start for Triple-A Rochester this season. In four Minor League seasons, he is 19-23 with a 4.15 ERA and 416 strikeouts in 329.2 innings. 

Millas, 26, returns to the Nationals for his second stint of the season. He went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and caught a runner attempting to steal second in his only game with Washington this year on April 10 at San Francisco. He played in three games in Rochester after he was optioned last Wednesday, going  1-for-5 with a double and an RBI.