The Nationals have acquired RHP Cristian Jimenez from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for RHP AJ Alexy, who was designated for assignment on Jan. 4.

The Washington Nationals conclude their preseason schedule against the reigning American League East champion New York Yankees at Nationals Park on Tuesday, March 28 at 12:05 PM. Tickets are on sale now at nationals.com/Tickets.

Just two days before Opening Day, fans have the unique opportunity to watch the Nationals go up against AL home run king Aaron Judge and the rest of the Yankees in the squad’s final tune-up before the official start of the regular season. Broadcast information for the game will be announced at a later date.

Tickets for the exhibition game and all regular-season games except Opening Day are on sale now at nationals.com/Tickets. Tickets for the Nationals’ Opening Day game vs. the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, March 30, go on sale later this month with special presale access for Season Plan Holders and Fan Club members.

The Nationals have signed the following players to Minor League contracts with invites to 2023 MLB Spring Training: LHP Anthony Banda, INF Michael Chavis and LHP Francisco Pérez.

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with first baseman Dominic Smith and designated right-handed pitcher A.J. Alexy for assignment on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Smith, 27, hit .246 with a .308 on-base percentage and a .424 slugging percentage in 447 games across six Major League seasons with the New York Mets. He recorded 78 doubles, three triples, 46 home runs, 179 RBI, 95 walks and 147 runs scored in that time fame. Smith hit double-digit home runs in three of his last four seasons.

From 2019 through 2021, Smith slashed .269/.332/.455 while clubbing 51 doubles, one triple, 32 homers and 125 RBI in 284 games. He set or matched career marks in nearly every offensive category in 2021, including home runs (11), runs (43), hits (109), RBI (58), walks (32) and stolen bases (two).

 Smith ranked among National League hitters in doubles (2^nd, 21), extra-base hits (T2^nd, 32), OPS (4^th, .993), slugging percentage (4^th, .616), RBI (T5^th, 42) and batting average (8^th, .316) during the 60-game season in 2020.

Smith appeared in 58 Major League games in 2022, hitting .194 with 10 doubles, one triple, 17 RBI, 12 walks and 11 runs scored. He hit .284/.367/.472 with 11 doubles, 10 homers, 38 RBI, 25 walks, four stolen bases and 42 runs scored in 54 games with Triple-A Syracuse. 

The Nationals have claimed infielder Jeter Downs on outright waivers from the Boston Red Sox.

In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Nationals have designated Reed Garrett for assignment.

The 40-man roster stands at 40.

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with right-handed pitcher Erasmo Ramírez on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Ramírez, 32, went 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 60 games for the Nationals in 2022 on his way to being named Nationals Pitcher of the Year by the Washington D.C. media. He ranked among National League relievers in innings pitched (1st, 80.1) and inherited runners scored (5th, 27.3%). He led Washington’s bullpen with a 2.46 ERA in 58 relief appearances. Ramírez made two starts last season, both against Atlanta, on June 13 and July 17. Ramírez pitched 2.0 or more innings in relief in 16 games during the 2022 season. He had a 1.43 ERA over 37.2 innings in those games.

Ramírez posted team-best scoreless innings streaks of 18.0 (Aug. 12 – Sept. 11) and 16.0 (July 17 – Aug. 9) last season. His 18.0 scoreless innings streak was the eighth-longest by a National League reliever in 2022.

Over his final 28 relief appearances last season, Ramírez went 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA (7 ER/42.0 IP), 28 strikeouts, five walks and a .189 opponents’ batting average. He allowed just three of 17 inherited runners to score over that stretch (17.6%).

A veteran of 11 Major League seasons, Ramírez is 37-42 with a 4.21 ERA in 276 career games (94 starts) with Seattle (2012-14, 2017-18), Tampa Bay (2015-17), Boston (2019), New York-NL (2020), Detroit (2021) and Washington (2022).

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a two-year contract with right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams on Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Williams, 30, went 3-5 with a 3.21 ERA in 30 games (nine starts) for the New York Mets in 2022. He struck out 84 hitters in 89.2 innings and walked just 23. In his nine starts last season, Williams was 2-4 with a 4.19 ERA. As a reliever he was 1-1 with a 2.47 ERA. He collected his first career save at Wrigley Field on July 14, when he finished the final 3.0 innings in an 8-0 win over the Cubs.

A veteran of seven Major League seasons, Williams was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the second round (44^th overall) in the 2013 MLB Draft out of Arizona State University. He has gone 38-44 with a 4.27 ERA with three teams since making his debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates as a 24-year-old on September 7, 2016 against the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched for Pittsburgh from 2016-20, Chicago-NL in 2021 and New York-NL from 2021-22.

In his career, Williams is 35-41 with a 4.33 ERA in 118 starts and 3-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 41 games as a reliever.

The Nationals now have 40 players on their 40-man roster.

Just in time for the holidays, the Washington Nationals today unveiled highlights of the club’s 2023 promotional schedule featuring an exciting array of exclusive bobbleheads and other collectibles. Fans can guarantee access to the giveaways of their choice by customizing multi-game ticket packs, available now at nationals.com/TicketFinder. Single-game tickets go on sale later this month with early access for Season Plan Holders and Fan Club members.

The full schedule of promotions and theme nights will be released in early 2023. 

Giveaways

Visitors to Nationals Park will have multiple opportunities to leave with special giveaways commemorating their time at the ballpark. Young stars CJ Abrams, Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz are immortalized in bobblehead form, while a special two-part series featuring the world-famous Racing Presidents and an exclusive Screech Night OUT bobblehead are exciting must-haves for any Nationals fan.

Additionally, the popular cherry blossom-themed City Connect design will return on and off the field, including as part of the Opening Day t-shirt, Josiah Gray bobblehead and Nationals’ beer stein giveaways.

With the Nationals retooling for next year, there’s a flurry of off-season activity. Fans can catch up on the latest news and analysis in a special new series: “The Hot Stove Show.”  

It airs Fridays at 9:30 p.m. on MASN. Special segments will also be available on masnsports.com and the MASN app. The series will focus on analyzing the roster, trades and free agent signings.

MASN’s Brendan Mortensen and MASN Insider Mark Zuckerman will host the weekly 30-minute program. The MASN Hot Stove Show features interviews with Nationals front office executives, big league players and top prospects, and exclusive insights provided by MASN broadcasters and analysts as the Nats and the rest of Major League Baseball prepare their rosters for the 2023 season.

Contact:  Adam Martiyan amartiyan@masnsports.com

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with infielder Jeimer (JAY-mer) Candelario (can-duh-LAR-ee-oh) and a Major League contract with outfielder Stone Garrett on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Candelario, 29, has hit .240 with 126 doubles, 13 triples, 66 home runs, 248 RBI, 237 walks, seven stolen bases and 283 runs scored in parts of seven Major League seasons with the Chicago Cubs (2016-17) and Detroit Tigers (2017-22). In 2021, he tied for the Major League lead with 42 doubles while setting career marks in games played (149), hits (151), doubles (42), extra-base hits (61) and RBI (67).

A switch-hitter, Candelario combined to hit .278/.356/.458 with 53 doubles, six triples, 23 home runs, 96 RBI, 85 walks and 105 runs scored in 201 games between the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In his final season with Detroit in 2022, Candelario hit .217 with 19 doubles, two triples, 13 homers, 50 RBI, 28 walks and 49 runs scored in 124 games.

Defensively, Candelario has played 517 games at third base and 64 games at first base during his career. He played 117 games at third base and eight games as the designated hitter during the 2022 season.

Candelario signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent on October 2, 2010 and made his Major League debut on July 3, 2016 against the New York Mets. He was traded to Detroit in 2017 with Isaac Paredes in exchange for Alex Avila and Justin Wilson.

The Washington Nationals selected the contracts of infielder Jake Alu, left-handed pitcher Matt Cronin, outfielder Jeremy De La Rosa, left-handed pitcher Jose Ferrer, right-handed pitcher Jake Irvin and right-handed pitcher Jackson Rutledge on Tuesday. Additionally, the Nationals designated right-handed pitcher Tommy Romero for assignment while outfielder Yadiel Hernandez, left-handed pitcher Evan Lee and right-handed pitcher Jackson Tetreault cleared outright waivers and were assigned to Triple-A Rochester. On Monday, Nov. 14, the Nationals requested unconditional release waivers on left-handed pitcher Seth Romero. On Thursday, Nov. 10, catcher Tres Barrera and left-handed pitcher Francisco Pérez cleared outright waivers. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Alu, 25, led Washington’s Minor League system in average (.299), slugging percentage (.506), OPS (.871), doubles (40), extra-base hits (62) and total bases (254) and tied for first in RBI (81) in 2022. He ranked second in on-base percentage (.365) and hits (150) while appearing in 132 games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester.

The left-handed hitting Alu finished the 2022 campaign on a season-high 20 game on-base streak, hitting safely in 19 of the 20 contests. He recorded two separate hitting streaks of 14 games from June 28-July 16 and Sept. 11-Sept. 27.

At third base, Alu led all of Minor League Baseball (infielders and outfielders) with 17 defensive runs saved, according to Baseball Info Solutions. In addition to his 114 games at third base, Alu also spent time at second base (9 games) and designated hitter (6 games).

Alu was selected in the 24th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Boston College. He was signed by Nationals scout John Malzone.

Tres Barrera and Francisco Pérez have cleared outright waivers and the Nationals have assigned their contracts outright to Triple-A Rochester.

Additionally, all 60-day Injured List players have been reinstated to the 40-man roster, which now stands at 39.

Washington Nationals Philanthropies, the official charitable arm of the Washington Nationals, today announced plans to honor Ryan Zimmerman with the Power of Baseball Award, presented by The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation, at its annual fundraising gala in March. The first-ever player drafted by the Nationals, Zimmerman went on to play 17 seasons with the organization – including an historic World Series championship run – before retiring earlier this year. Aptly nicknamed “Mr. National,” Zimmerman has proven himself a leader on the field and in the community. He is the first current or former player to receive the foundation’s Power of Baseball Award, which annually recognizes an individual, corporation, organization or local group that embodies the positive character and level of achievement exemplified throughout the game of baseball.

“From the beginning, Ryan has represented the level of excellence and commitment to community that reflect the core values of the Washington Nationals organization,” said Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, founding chair and board member of Washington Nationals Philanthropies and president of The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation. “Through installations like the first local Legacy Field to carry the name of a Nationals player and his impressive commitment to supporting families affected by Multiple Sclerosis through his foundation, the Zimmerman name will forever be connected with the positive impact he’s had on this city.” 

In 2006, Zimmerman established ziMS Foundation to raise money and awareness for programs benefiting those afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that has affected his family personally. Serving as the foundation’s president, Zimmerman is actively involved in decision-making and donates his time, money and image to promoting the foundation. ziMS Foundation has raised more than $4 million for organizations dedicated to the fight against MS.

Zimmerman is the largest individual donor to Nationals Philanthropies over the past decade and has been a consistent supporter of the Scholar Athletes at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, having visited the program numerous times over the years. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zimmerman and his wife Heather spearheaded a relief campaign to provide health care professionals with support, resources and meals. During his playing career, Zimmerman was the club’s Roberto Clemente Award nominee six times and received the “Good Guy” Award by D.C. media twice since it was first established in 2016. 

“When it came time to select the next honoree for the Power of Baseball Award, Ryan was a no-doubter,” said Tal Alter, CEO of Nationals Philanthropies. “His notable generosity is matched only by his authenticity and devotion to the causes he supports. We look forward to joining with supporters and fans next spring to honor the philanthropic impact and legacy of ‘Mr. National’.”

The remnants of Hurricane Ian are forecasted to bring inclement weather to our region this weekend. As a result, the following scheduling changes have been made to our series vs. the Philadelphia Phillies:

The 7:05 PM game scheduled for Saturday, October 1 has been moved to 1:05 PM on Friday, September 30. All tickets for the 7:05 PM game on Saturday will be honored for the rescheduled game.

The 1:05 PM game on Saturday, October 1 will be played as originally scheduled.

Visit nationals.com/rain for ticket information.

We will continue to work closely with MLB as the weather situation unfolds. Please stay tuned to our social channels for the latest information.

The Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy this month begins its fall season of YBA PLAY grassroots clinics, featuring Nike as the presenting sponsor. In its sixth full year of programming, YBA PLAY delivers fun and free instructional clinics to kids, ages 6 to 12 in underserved communities, giving them the chance to learn and love the game of baseball with year-round clinics and summer league teams. Nike, the Official Uniform and Footwear Supplier of Major League Baseball, serves as the first-ever presenting sponsor of YBA PLAY by providing direct financial support for program operations and equipment along with apparel for summer league uniforms.

“Consistent access to sports is critical to youth development, providing personal growth opportunities and positive life outcomes for kids,” said Nick Sussman, Director of Sports Programs at Nationals Academy. “YBA PLAY makes baseball fun for children in Wards 7 and 8, giving them the tools to succeed on the field, while keeping it easy for them to come back to the sport. Support from Nike underscores just how important grassroots sports are for growing the game and helping our communities.”

Nationals Academy uniquely offers continual development with YBA PLAY as its introductory program for beginners that serves as a funnel to a competitive baseball and softball program, HUSTLE. Academy staff intentionally designed the YBA PLAY program to address barriers to access in youth sports.

Fun, Free, and Easy

In underserved neighborhoods with higher than average poverty rates, like D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8, a high-quality youth sports experience requires resources unavailable to some families. Modified rules that promote playing time and rewards for effort, not outcomes, provide a fun and engaging environment. By making the program free, covering the cost of facilities, equipment, and well-trained coaches, the Academy removes barriers to participation for children living at or below the poverty line. Offering clinics at safe, neighborhood facilities with appropriate space for baseball activity makes access easy for local residents.

The Washington Nationals celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) at the ballpark and across media platforms, highlighting the cultures and traditions of the club’s Spanish-speaking fans and players alike. On Friday, Sept. 16 (7:05 PM vs. Miami), the Nationals honor the legendary Roberto Clemente as part of Major League Baseball’s league-wide recognition, and host Hispanic Heritage Night at Nationals Park.

Fans who purchase a special ticket to Friday’s Hispanic Heritage Day game will receive a limited-edition t-shirt showcasing Washington D.C.’s vibrant and diverse Hispanic culture. Prior to the game, the Nationals will recognize the home countries of the club’s Spanish-speaking players, and D.C. United defender Andy Najar, a native of Choluteca, Honduras, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Audacy Spanish-language music station 107.9 El Zol FM will also be at Nationals Park once gates open, giving away prizes while DJ Xplosive performs in Center Field Plaza.

This week, the Nationals and El Zol are rolling out a series of videos featuring some of the club’s Spanish-speaking players, including Victor Arano, Paolo Espino, Luis García, Yadiel Hernandez, Joey Meneses, Erasmo Ramírez, Victor Robles and Keibert Ruiz, talking about their home countries, traditions, foods and more. Created in partnership with El Zol and led by morning show hosts Patricia De Lima and Chepe, the pieces will run in Nationals Park prior to Friday’s game, on air during El Zol’s morning shows and will be posted to Nationals and El Zol social accounts throughout the week. Visit nationals.com/HispanicHeritage to see new videos as they are posted.

Manager Davey Martinez helped kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with the season’s final edition of Davey’s Dugout on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Davey’s Dugout is a monthly series in which Martinez extends special invitations to and meets with families and individuals of Hispanic heritage from the D.C. area.

For more information and to purchase special tickets for Hispanic Heritage Day, visit nationals.com/HispanicHeritage.

The Washington Nationals are back in D.C. for a five-game homestand that opens with two games of the Beltway Series vs. the Baltimore Orioles, followed by a three-game set against the Miami Marlins. Single-game tickets start at just $9. Fans interested in purchasing tickets should visit nationals.com/Tickets.

The season’s 11th homestand features Hispanic Heritage and Roberto Clemente Day; kids Nationals Screech Handmade by Robots ™ Vinyl Figure giveaways; the season’s final Pups in the Park game; City Connect uniforms; Girl Scout Day; Value Day; Signature Sunday; Kids Run the Bases; and more.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 13 vs. BALTIMORE ORIOLES (7:05 PM)

·        Beltway Series presented by Inova

o   The Nationals will host their neighbors from the north as part of the annual Beltway Series presented by Inova when the Baltimore Orioles visit Nationals Park for a two-game set.

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

• Selected the contract of catcher Israel Pineda from Triple-A Rochester
• Recalled right-handed pitcher Jordan Weems from Triple-A Rochester
• Placed catcher Keibert Ruiz on the 10-day Injured List with a testicular contusion
• Designated left-handed pitcher Jake McGee for assignment

Pineda, 22, hit .258 with 20 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, 71 RBI, 36 walks, three stolen bases and 49 runs scored in 99 games between High-A Wilmington, Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester. He ranked among Nationals Minor Leaguers in RBI (2^nd, 71), home runs (5^th, 16), slugging percentage (5^th, .458), extra-base hits (6^th, 38) and OPS (8^th, .783) this season.

Washington’s No. 23 prospect by Baseball America and No. 26 per MLBPipeline.com, Pineda has recorded a .429 slugging percentage with 31 doubles, two triples and 30 home runs in 175 games since the start of the 2021 season.

Pineda signed with the Nationals on July 2, 2016 out of Maracay, Venezuela. With his debut, he will become the third member of Washington’s 2016 international class to appear in the Major Leagues, joining right-handed pitcher Joan Adon and infielder Luis García.

Weems, 29, returns for his third stint with the Nationals after tossing 10.0 scoreless innings and going 5-for-5 in save opportunities across his last eight games with Triple-A Rochester. He allowed just two hits (.067 opp. AVG) with 10 strikeouts and four walks over this stretch.