Thursday, February 06

Welcome to the offseason 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.

The Nationals have spots to fill in their pitching staff, and nine pitchers will head to Spring Training next week looking to make an impression as non-roster invitees. The group includes eight right-handers and one southpaw, four Top 30 prospects and several in their first big league camp. Let’s take a look at who will be vying for roster spots when pitchers and catchers hold their first workout on Feb. 12 in West Palm Beach, Fla. 

RHP Daison Acosta
Age: 26

MLB experience: None

First Major League camp: No

Acosta pitched for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester last season. He had a 2.61 ERA and 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 47 relief appearances (58 2/3 innings).

RHP Joan Adon

Age: 26

MLB experience: Four seasons 

First Major League camp: No

A familiar face on the Nationals, Adon logged 132 1/3 big league frames from 2021-24. During that span, he was 3-16 with a 6.66 ERA in 35 games (26 starts). Adon was designated for assignment in early January when Washington signed Amed Rosario.

RHP Marquis Grissom Jr.

Age: 23

MLB experience: None

First Major League camp: Yes

Grissom, the son of a former Expos All-Star, is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Nationals’ No. 27 prospect. He advanced from High-A Wilmington to Harrisburg last season. In 41 relief appearances (53 innings), he earned nine saves and posted a 2.21 ERA.

RHP Clay Helvey

Age: 27

MLB experience: None

First Major League camp: Yes

Selected by the Giants in the 22nd round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Helvey spent his entire career in San Francisco’s organization before signing a Minor League deal with the Nats in November. The reliever went 7-6 with a 5.17 ERA and 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings across 71 1/3 innings (39 appearances) with Triple-A Sacramento last season. 

RHP Brad Lord

Age: 24

MLB experience: None

First Major League camp: Yes

After advancing from High-A to Triple-A in 2024, Lord was named a co-winner of the Nationals Way Award (along with outfielder Daylen Lile). Lord, the Nationals’ No. 30 prospect, was 10-4 last year with a 2.43 ERA and 135 strikeouts. He was one of two pitchers in the Minors to record 10 wins, an ERA less than 2.50 and more than 100 strikeouts (135). (Twins' No. 6 prospect Andrew Morris was the other.)

LHP Konnor Pilkington

Age: 27

MLB experience: Two seasons

First Major League camp: No

Pilkington made his Major League debut with Cleveland in 2022, and he pitched last season for Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate. He had a 5.91 ERA across 77 2/3 frames in 33 outings, including 21 starts. 

RHP Jack Sinclair

Age: 25

MLB experience: None
First Major League camp: Yes

Sinclair pitched the 2024 season for Harrisburg. He had a 2.20 ERA and eight saves in 43 games (57 1/3 innings). 

RHP Tyler Stuart

Age: 25

MLB experience: None

First Major League camp: Yes

The former Mets prospect who was acquired in the Jesse Winker trade last summer will participate in his first Spring Training as a member of the Nats’ organization. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the Nationals’ No. 19 prospect. At Double-A Binghamton, Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester last season, Stuart was 4-8 with a 4.12 ERA in 25 starts, including one complete game. He threw 122 1/3 innings. 

RHP Jarlin Susana

Age: 20

MLB experience: None

First Major League camp: Yes

Susana, the Nats’ No. 4 prospect and No. 79 overall, offered a preview when he reached triple digits in the 2024 Spring Breakout. He led all Minor Leaguers with 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings (minimum 100 innings) while going 4-10 with a 4.34 ERA in 24 starts between Single-A Fredericksburg and Wilmington. 

The Nationals have added new events to their 2025 regular-season home schedule, including:

• Hello Kitty Day: April 8 vs. Dodgers; fans receive exclusive Hello Kitty light up figurine (with special ticket)

• Friends Day: May 6 vs. Guardians; fans receive Screech and Teddy “Pivot!” bobblehead (with special ticket)

• Golf Day: May 21 vs. Braves; fans receive Nationals head cover and divot tool (with special ticket)

MLB.com reporter David Adler explored each division and identified one potential breakout star. Outfielder James Wood emerged from the NL East, with Mark Vientos (Mets), Spencer Schwellenbach (Braves) and Alec Bohm (Phillies) receiving honorable mention. 

Adler wrote of the 22-year-old Wood:

“Wood is built in the mold of Elly De La Cruz, and he could be the next electric power-speed star. … 

“Wood has all the tools, and he showed them after debuting in 2024 as one of MLB's top prospects. The 6-foot-7 lefty slugger's 92.8 mph average exit velocity and 52% hard-hit rate both ranked in the top 5% of MLB hitters who had as many batted balls as he had. And Wood's 28.7 feet per second average sprint speed ranked in the 85th percentile of MLB runners.

“The key for Wood in 2025 is probably being a little more aggressive at the plate -- he's got a fast bat and big power, but he had one of the lowest swing rates in baseball as a rookie. If he lets it rip this season, he'll mash a bunch of homers, and he'll get the hits he needs to make a difference with his speed on the bases, too.” 

• Feb. 12: Pitchers and catchers first workout
• Feb. 18: Full squad first workout
• Feb. 21: Photo day
• Feb. 22: Spring Training opener at Astros
• March 14: Spring Breakout at Astros
• March 16: Spring Breakout vs. Mets

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