Washington Nationals information & notes: Keibert Ruiz in 2024; Stone Garrett constructing back up

RUIZ'S SPOT: Keibert Ruiz hit 3rd or fourth in the lineup most nights post-trade due date last season, however he was throughout the middle of the Nationals' order throughout the 2023 period. Nats' captain Davey Martinez claimed when he talked with press reporters this previous Friday there would be some playing with schedules this springtime as he attempts to discover the right equilibrium for his where will the No. 1 backstop in D.C. hit?" I'm not terrified to place him back on top of the order-- he's a switch-hitter-- and have men strike behind him, " Martinez claimed. "Yet we'll see. He's going to hit 3-4-5, maybe 6, this springtime. We'll see how it works out." He struck sixth in the Grapefruit League opener on Saturday, going 0 for 1 with a K prior to the catcher was provided for the day in what wound up a 7-4 loss to the battled at home plate in the initial fifty percent of the 2023 campaign.226/.279/.360, 11 increases, 9 HRs in 73 games 305 PAs prior to the All-Star Break), yet selected it up in the second-half of the period.300/.342/.467, 13 increases, nine Humans resources in 63 G, 257 in the second half). Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports Ruiz consistently came via with joggers in scoring position last season, nevertheless, going 46 for 126.365/.406/.579) with nine of his doubles and six of his home runs on the year coming with RISP. So. will he strike in the middle of the schedule once more in 2024? [ed. note - "A previous version of this post had a quote that was, we subsequently learned, regarding CJ Abrams at home plate, and not Ruiz. Regrettably, because we're not in WPB, we don't always get the complete? s being asked and slipped up on this, when reporters returned to going over Abrams after a series of? s concerning Ruiz." STONE GARRETT STILL BUILDING: Stone Garrett endured a season-ending injury broken left fibula) in August of 2023, but he ended up the campaign with a. 269/.343/.457 line, 17 doubles, 9 home runs, 82 Ks, and 26 walks over 89 games and 271 plate appearances, and took care of to impress the Nationals' brass with his operate in his first year in the organization." He improved considerably, I thought, " GM Mike Rizzo told reporters at the Winter Conferences in December." We brought him in there to be-- really-- my idea was for him to play against left-handed pitching and perhaps a protective substitute in left field, and he took that and kept up it and then [supervisor Davey [Martinez began getting him in there against some right-handed pitching and did well there too. I assumed he got on the edge of really ending up being a well-rounded gamer for us that absolutely can be in the strategies for the future." Garrett rehabbed all winter season and came to Springtime Educating all set to go for 2024, yet Martinez said on Day 1 they would certainly try to take it slow down with the 28-year-old to make certain he's 100%." We're mosting likely to construct him up. I'm wishing he's going to await Opening Day. He's done a whole lot, " Martinez discussed." We reached inspect all the boxes with him https://www.nationalsshorts.com/Mackenzie_Gore_Shorts, " the skipper claimed. Picture by Rich Storry/Getty Images "It's going to be a development, however we're going to press him. He desires to be pushed. He's been hitting, and he looks actually excellent striking. Therefore we're not mosting likely to hold him back. "He'll establish when he's all set to go, and we'll keep a close eye on him. So each day we're going to proceed and see where he goes to in the direction of the end of [Spring Training. "Heading into the first Grapefruit Organization games, Martinez stated last week the club was still taking points gradually with Garrett." We're absolutely maintaining an eye on him and advancing him, and he's proceeding rather well, however like I stated, he's still got to examine some boxes for us. However he's around, and he's going through a great deal of different points. We're attempting to restrict his baserunning still, today, so he's not taking part in the baserunning, due to the fact that he's mimicing various other points to do the baserunning stuff. But he's swinging the bat, he's doing the live BPs, he's doing whatever that we seem like he's ready for." When will they test Garrett and let him go full-on?" When again, I simply desire to see to it that he's 100% before we get him around and really begin complete going. Yet he looks great, " Martinez said." Look, he worked vigilantly all winter long to get himself all set. I assume he's in a good place. I think as of right now, he could be ready for Opening Day, which's the means we're taking a look at it." There are plenty of chances in West Palm Coastline to obtain Garrett ABs and develop him back up, especially when the small league camp gets going." We're most likely going to reduce his way in. Like I stated, once the minor leaguers come in and those people prepare yourself and they start, we can get [Garrett as numerous at-bats as we need. We can do a lot of various points. So, today, I'm looking at what he did today, and he looked great, he's advancing, I saw him do his outfield work and he looked really excellent, however regarding getting him in a game, we'll see just how he performs in the next couple of days." It's going to be a while before I truly feel comfy placing him in a video game, but we're absolutely proceeding in the best instructions." LIKEWISE THIS: James Wood. First swing as a Nat. ruthless.