Welcome to the Spring Training edition of the Nationals Beat newsletter! This is your stop for the latest on and off the field, from news to exclusive player interviews and insights, brought to you by MLB.com club reporter Jessica Camerato. |
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Nationals No. 7 prospect Luke Dickerson was busy. As in, really busy. The multi-sport standout juggled a packed calendar of two sports simultaneously, seasons overlapping, while he excelled. “It was definitely difficult because I was playing the same seasons -- football and hockey, and then lacrosse and baseball,” Dickerson, 19, said. “I was trying everything. Once I got to high school, I kind of had to sit down and be like, ‘Which ones do I really want to continue to play?’ So I narrowed it down to hockey and baseball.” Dickerson earned the 2024 New Jersey High School Baseball Player of the Year Award at Morris Knolls High School in Rockaway. He tied the state’s single-season home run record (18) set by Mike Trout and Ashton Bardzell. Dickerson tallied plenty of team awards, too. He led the Golden Eagles to consecutive baseball state titles in 2023 and ‘24. In hockey, his team won the 2024 NJSIAA state championship. Of all his sports, Dickerson pursued baseball professionally. When he entered the Draft out of high school, MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No. 49 overall prospect. Dickerson was selected in the second round by the Nationals, and his $3.8 million bonus was the highest in the Draft bonus-pool era outside of the first and supplemental first rounds. “I think it’s really good because I feel like other sports teach you different skills that you can apply and use for baseball,” Dickerson said. “Being able to do other sports and staying athletic has definitely helped me.” MLB.com sat down with Dickerson at the 2025 Spring Breakout to reflect on how each sport impacted his baseball success. And he has made time for a hobby, too. |
Photo credit: Luke Dickerson (@_lukedickerson) |
Baseball: Shortstop “Being a shortstop is definitely one of the priority positions. I feel like it’s being a captain, having to lead the infield. Using all those skills from those other sports, being able to lead and make tough plays, being athletic. You don't really know where the ball is going to be hit, how hard it's going to be hit, so just making those adjustments. You have to make adjustments in every game, so it's definitely helped.” Hockey: Center “I feel like hockey is just like that grit and that grittiness. It’s a fast-paced, hitting game. In baseball, you can honestly use that in the box battling. You need to be gritty. It's a gritty sport as well.” Football: Running back, safety “It’s a tough sport, a fast-moving sport. You’ve got to be really smart for that, memorizing all the plays and reading stuff. That's the smartness I feel like you can bring to baseball.” |
Photo credit: Luke Dickerson (@_lukedickerson) |
Lacrosse: Midfielder, face-offs “That's another fast-moving [sport]. You need good hand-eye [coordination], being able to shoot, catch, pass, everything. So that definitely helps for baseball.” Basketball: Shooting guard “I played basketball in middle school, being athletic and everything.” Hobby: Fishing “[I’ve been fishing] probably since I can remember, for a long time now. I've been fishing here in Florida, these ponds back here are great spots. Then back home in Jersey, my buddy's got a little boat we go out on in the mornings. … I go for freshwater bass. I think in certain areas, the fish are bigger here [in Florida].” |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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The Nationals announced the $5 Tuesdays concessions menu for this season. Food and beverage offerings will include hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, nachos, fountain sodas and 12 oz. domestic beers.
A sneak preview of the menu items will be available at the exhibition game on March 24.
This special menu is available at Grand Slam Grill behind sections 110, 117, 130, 141, 302 and 313 at Nationals Park. |
Right-hander Seth Shuman was named to the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Second Team. The 27-year-old delivered three scoreless innings to secure the tie against the Astros in the Nationals' first game of the exhibition showcase. He recorded three strikeouts, allowed three hits and did not issue a walk. Shuman, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and reached Double-A Harrisburg last season, had one of the loudest cheering sections at the ballpark. |
SPRING BREAKOUT PART 2: DUGOUT VIEWS |
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