Greetings! Welcome to the latest 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. This story was written by contributor Chuck King in Miami. Alex Call didn't exactly feel lost at the plate despite knowing something wasn't quite right. On a drive from Syracuse back to Rochester last season, the then-Red Wings outfielder requested divine intervention to help tweak his swing. Ever since then, Call's been one of the best hitters in baseball. Call scorched Triple-A pitching in the weeks that followed, prompting a late-July recall to the Majors. What did Call discover following that July drive? Well, he tweaked his swing trigger in the batter's box, pumping his hands up and down as he awaited pitch delivery. The adjustment aided his timing and allowed for more freedom with his swing. “It was like I flipped the switch,” Call said. “I just started having quality contact using the entire field. And that opened it all up for me. I went on a great run in July. I got called up at the end of July and had an amazing stretch there.” |
Call hit .333 with seven doubles, two homers and 10 RBIs in August after rejoining the Nationals before a left foot injury cost him the remainder of the season. During the run, Call wrote notes to himself about how he felt in the box over the season's final months, and he kept video of his at-bats for reference. But rather than continue to develop his swing during the offseason, he decided to let well enough be. “I didn't pick up a bat until the end of November, which is the longest I've ever gone,” Call said. “I had my keys written down. I have video of my swing from the end of the year. I took that video and watched it a couple times. Then I went in the cage and I felt the exact same -- and that was nice.” Call made one more slight adjustment during Spring Training, bringing the bat head closer to his head at set-up. The change, which allows Call to be quicker to the ball, also paid immediate dividends. |
Call is slashing .293/.407/.390 with a .797 OPS and 10 walks to four strikeouts in his first 16 games of the season. He entered Tuesday ranked 12th in the National League with a .400 average with runners in scoring position. “He works good at-bats,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He accepts his walks. He's hitting the ball all over the field, which is great.” Call's bat, and his patience with it, took on a more prominent role when the Nationals placed shortstop CJ Abrams on the 10-day IL because of a right hip flexor strain. With Abrams out of the lineup, Martinez moved Call to the leadoff spot. Call has hit leadoff in six games this season. “I like to see pitches and I'm comfortable working the count,” Call said. “If they give you something good I'll swing, but otherwise I'm comfortable just trying to see the pitches and trying to get the starter to work.” |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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LARA'S BIG TRIP TO DENVER |
MLB.com contributor Owen Perkins wrote this story from Denver: The biggest beneficiary of the Nationals’ snowed-out series opener in Colorado Friday may be No. 16 prospect Andry Lara, who was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to serve as the 27th man on the roster for the Sunday doubleheader. “It means everything,” Lara, 22, said through a team interpreter. “It's been a dream as a kid for my family and me, and I'm just excited to be here.” Lara got the news that he was joining the Nationals on Friday. “It was obviously unexpected,” Lara said. “They did a team meeting after [the game], and I was kind of shocked by it.” Lara led Washington’s system in wins (11) and WHIP (1.16) last season. He was also ranked second in innings pitched (134 2/3) and third in strikeouts (132). In 25 games between High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg, Lara ranked second among qualified Nationals Minor League pitchers in ERA (3.34) and opponents’ batting average (.227). As he tries to build on his success from last season, Lara has focused on expanding his repertoire of effective pitches. While he did not get in the game on Sunday and was returned to Triple-A, he has an approach to continuing on his path back to his Major League debut. “The biggest thing is, I've been trying to work on my changeup day in and day out, to try to make that better,” Lara said, noting he was refining both his command of the pitch and its shape. “It’s a mixture of everything. The last few games I've felt like I found one that I like, and so that's what I've continued to work on.” |
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MOTA NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK |
Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals infielder Jorgelys Mota was named the Carolina League Player of the Week for April 15-20. During that stretch, Mota hit .364 (8-for-22) with a home run, three doubles, one triple, six RBIs, five walks and four stolen bases. In three of the six games, Mota recorded a game-tying or go-ahead RBI in the 8th inning or later. |
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Nationals Park greeted the newest members of the Washington Mystics on Tuesday. First-round draft picks Georgia Amoore (No. 6), Sonia Citron (No. 3, via Chicago Sky) and Kiki Iriafen (No. 4) each threw out a ceremonial first pitch. |
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• Wednesday: University of Maryland Day • Thursday: A MINECRAFT MOVIE Night • Friday: Patriotic Series -- Military Appreciation Day; Pups in the Park; American University Day; Friday Night Fireworks • Saturday: NATS20 cap giveaway (first 20,000 fans in attendance); 20th Anniversary Signature Saturday (autograph session with Nationals alumni Michael Morse and Kevin Frandsen) • Sunday: Kids Designed Opening Day T-Shirt giveaway (first 5,000 fans ages 12 and younger); Story Time at Nationals Park; Screech's Birthday; Signature Sunday; Girl Scout Day; Kids Run the Bases (ages 4-12 postgame) |
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