Monday, June 15

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.

Victor Robles will always be cherished by Nationals fans for his role in winning the 2019 World Series, and they showed their appreciation in his return to Nationals Park. 

On Friday, the team honored Robles with a video tribute prior to the first pitch of the series opener. It captured his eight seasons in Washington from 2017 to 2024. Robles, 29, signed with the Nats as a 16-year-old in 2013. 

“It feels good,” Robles said of the reception. “During the time I was here, they adopted me as family.”

Robles was a two-time Gold Glove Award finalist with electric defense in the outfield. He caught the final outs to clinch the 2019 NL Wild Card spot and in the NLCS to advance to the World Series. 

Robles had a 1.000 fielding percentage with 30 putouts during that title run, and he started in center field all seven games of the World Series. He described that 2019 team as a group of teammates who played as one. 

During his career, Robles slashed .236/.311/.356 with 31 home runs and 70 stolen bases in 530 games for the Nationals. A series of injuries hampered his final seasons with the team, and he was designated for assignment in late May 2024. 

Robles was injured the last time the Mariners came to Washington, making this his first series played at Nationals Park in an opposing uniform. 

“I felt happy,” Robles said. “A little, not sad, but missing the teammates, missing the staff, missing the coaches and missing the city, too. I know it’s a business, but I felt very good to return.”

Nationals No. 3 prospect (MLB No. 59) Jarlin Susana took a significant step in his recovery from right lat surgery. 

Last week, Susana threw off the mound for the first time. He is continuing his throwing progression while he rehabs at the Nationals’ training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla. 

Susana, 22, was 1-4 with a 3.51 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 14 starts between High-A and Double-A last season. He was invited to Major League Spring Training this year.

MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo tackled the latest 2026 Mock Draft and projected who the Nationals could pick at the No. 11 spot. Mayo is eyeing shortstop Justin Lebron from Alabama, who is ranked as the No. 9 overall Draft prospect. 

Mayo wrote: “If you’ve read any mocks, the name that’s brought up the most here is [OF/LHP Jared] Grindlinger, and he very well could be in the mix. But I’m just not convinced, and feel like a college hitter is how they might go. Lebron has the best overall toolset in the class, albeit with spotty performance, but we could look back and find that he was a steal at this point or below.”

As part of Family Fundays at Nationals Park, The Great Presidents Chase is a scavenger hunt for kids aged 12 and under. At Saturday and Sunday home games, head to the Hospitality Hub (located near Centerfield Plaza across from the Main Team Store) to pick up a free scorecard. Then, scour Nationals Park concourse for the four hidden Racing Presidents signs. Bring your completed scorecard back to the Hospitality Hub to receive your prize. 

• Sunday: Toy Story 5 Day – kids aged 12 and younger receive a James “Woody” T-shirt; Team UP Day; Signature Sunday; The Great Presidents Chase; Kids Run the Bases (kids aged 4-12, postgame)

• Monday: Branch Appreciation Day – U.S. Army, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to perform pregame flyover 

• Tuesday: Negro Leagues Night – replica Homestead Grays jersey giveaway (first 20,000 fans in attendance); Howard University Night*; $5 Tuesdays 

* Special ticket required

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