Uncustomed Heroes of 2023: Nationals

 

The Washington Nationals, especially this year's version of them, are an extremely odd team because they're trying to establish an identity but don't have many homegrown players to do so with. All that's left are some of the remaining contracts from the initial playoff years, a glut of players they traded their playoff heroes for, and some cheap contracts that have filled the void. At the very least, in 2023 we saw a few actual homegrown Nats guys working their way up, but the team's best performers were a guy they got from San Diego, a guy they got from St. Louis, a guy they got from L.A. and a guy they picked up from Arizona. Their most valuable homegrown player finished ninth in WAR, behind Keibert Ruiz and Jeimer Cadelario's half-season. 

The single most obvious monument to the Nationals' sputtering in place is Patrick Corbin, still rounding out his 6-year deal he signed in 2019, which worked well for Washington for EXACTLY ONE YEAR. Subsequently, Corbin has led the NL in losses for the past THREE SEASONS. Since 2021, Patrick Corbin has lost 50 games; to put that into perspective, since 2021, Gerrit Cole has 44 wins. Corbin makes all his starts, stays at the head of the rotation, and is by and large a reliable starting pitcher for this now-rebuilding team. Trouble is, he's still not very good, and this year he went 10-15 with a 5.20 ERA [his lowest since 2020] in 180 innings, his most since 2019. So it was good for Corbin, I guess.

2024 Prediction: Will not lead the league in losses, cause the Nats aren't gonna let him start 32 games next year.

Going into the 2023 season, the Nationals wanted to up their power game, so they got two free agents that would boost this for them. One of them did so well he ended the season playing for the Cubs. The other was Dominic Smith, who couldn't power hit for the Mets even when given the direct opportunity to do so. Smith actually played 153 games for the Nats this year, which is normally a sign that someone's doing something well. Actually, Smith hit .253 with 134 hits, 46 RBIs and 12 home runs. As he was in New York, Smith was a replacement level corner infielder with no defensive perks and occasional offensive input. So the Nats cut him.

2024 Prediction: Hits more home runs than Dan Vogelbach, wherever both of them land. 

Luis Garcia is 23 years old, and since his debut in 2020, the Nats have been desperately trying to make him a thing. This was Garcia's biggest year to date, he played in 122 games and was the primary starting 2nd baseman, and he's still mostly a defensive improvement if anything. Garcia hit .266 with 50 RBIs and 9 homers. Still unspectacular. The hope is that eventually he hits his peak and gives the Nats what they want, but at this rate? Not sure if that happens.

2024 Prediction: Garcia will lead the team in something next year. Not sure if it will be something gratifying, but he will stand out. 

Trevor Williams has had a whirlwind couple of years, after starting for the Pirates for a few years, and then fulfilling a hybrid role with Chicago and New York for the past few years. This year, the Nationals signed him to start, and he managed to make 30 starts for the team this year, which definitely shows he can still be steady and consistent after his peak years with Pittsburgh. This year, Williams finished with a 5.55 ERA, a 6-10 record, and gave up a league-leading 34 home runs. So, not all there in quality, but Williams, along with Corbin, Gore, Gray and one other, insured that they didn't have to burn through many starting options this year.

2024 Prediction: Williams will have a better year statistically, but as the year goes on, the Nats will have less and less of a role for him. 

The Nats' most potent bullpen weapon, besides closer Kyle Finnegan, was former Orioles prospect Hunter Harvey, son of former Angels/Marlins closer Bryan Harvey. 2023 was Harvey's fullest, and most impressive, year, as he appeared in 57 games, held a 2.82 ERA and a 0.940 ERA, and 67 Ks.

2024 Prediction: Even bigger, and more eyes may be upon him in July. 

Riley Adams was, once again, the primary backup catcher in Washington, and this year he actually was more consistent at the plate than Ruiz at some points. In 44 games, Adams hit .273 with 21 RBIs and 4 homers, and it was a nice pace til he got injured around the tail end of the year. 

2024 Prediction: A season that will ensure he won't be a career backup going forward.

And now, three rookies named Jake. 

The biggest homegrown success the Nationals enjoyed this year was Jake Irvin, a long-gestating rookie pitcher who started 24 games for the team this year, and actually did a pretty nice job, with 99 Ks and a 4.61 ERA. The hope is that he builds on this with MLB experience and a better, fuller season.

2024 Prediction: Leads the Nats in IP, becomes a steady second head under Gray.

Then there's Jake Alu, a Nats farmhand who finally made the majors this year. Alu doesn't have a go-to position yet, they slotted him in the infield and outfield multiple times, but in 51 games he had 36 hits and 16 RBIs, which isn't bad. 

2024 Prediction: Becomes a super-ute type and has to be pressed into starting late, and makes a name for himself doing this.

And the more intriguing Jake is Jacob Young, a 2021 draft pick who rolled through all levels of play in a span of one year, starting in single-A and finishing with the Nats. The reason why he rose so quickly through the system was that wherever they put Young, he'd still hit at least .295, hitting .300 in single-A and double-A. By the time he hit Washington, he was faced with tougher pitching, which is why he only hit .252 in 33 MLB games, but he still wowed fans with 27 hits, 12 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in that time.

2024 Prediction: At some point, the Nats will realize how important someone like Young is to this team, and he'll have another incredible hitting year that the Nats will see some of.

Coming Tomorrow- Several members of an excellent Orioles team failed by a round-1 bye.