2022 Washington Nationals season

2022 Washington Nationals
Major League affiliations
National League (since 1969) East Division (since 1969)
Location
Nationals Park (since 2008) Washington, D.C. (since 2005)
Other information
Owner(s)	Lerner Enterprises
General manager(s)	Mike Rizzo
Manager(s)	Dave Martinez
Local television	MASN (Bob Carpenter, Kevin Frandsen)
Local radio	106.7 The Fan Washington Nationals Radio Network (Charlie Slowes, Dave Jageler)
< Previous season

The 2022 Washington Nationals season is scheduled to be the Nationals' 18th season as the baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia, the 15th season at Nationals Park, and the 54th since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

On December 2, 2021, Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred announced a lockout of players, following expiration of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). On March 10, 2022, the MLB and MLBPA agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement, thus ending the lockout. Opening Day is scheduled for April 7.^[1] Although MLB previously announced that several series would be cancelled due to the lockout, the agreement provides for a 162-game season, with originally canceled games to be made up via doubleheaders.^[2]

Offseason[]

Lockout[]

The expiration of the league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Major League Baseball Players Association occurred on December 1, 2021 with no new agreement in place.^[3] As a result, the team owners voted unanimously to lockout the players stopping all free agency and trades.^[4][5]

The parties came to an agreement on a new CBA on March 10, 2022.^[6]

Rule changes[]

Pursuant to the new CBA, several new rules were instituted for the 2022 season. The National League will adopt the designated hitter full-time, a draft lottery will be implemented, the postseason will expand from ten teams to twelve, and advertising patches will appear on player uniforms and helmets for the first time.^[7][8]

Team news[]

After finishing with the fifth-worst record in Major League Baseball (65–97) in the 2021 season, the Nationals are expected to draft fifth overall in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft,^[9] barring a change in the draft order under a new collective bargaining agreement.^[10][11]

Despite the Nationals' losing record and poor pitching performances in 2021, manager Dave Martinez announced that pitching coach Jim Hickey would return for a second year in 2022;^[12] Martinez himself will return for a fifth season,^[13] along with most of the 2021 coaching staff. The Washington Post reported that first base coach Randy Knorr and third base coach Bob Henley would not return to the major league field staff, instead becoming the catching and field coordinators for the Nationals' player development system,^[14] following the departure of a number of coaches and coordinators late in the 2021 season.^[15] With hitting coach Kevin Long's one-year contract expiring, The Athletic reported that he would join the Philadelphia Phillies coaching staff, replacing former Nationals coach Joe Dillon,^[16] who returned to Washington as the organization's new minor league hitting coordinator.^[17] To replace Long, the Nationals announced the hiring of veteran hitting coach Darnell Coles, most recently of the Arizona Diamondbacks, on October 18, 2021.^[18] The Nationals hired former professional outfielder and Seattle Mariners minor league coach Eric Young Jr. as their first base coach later that month.^[19] The day after the 2021 World Series ended, on November 3, the Nationals announced the hiring of two new coaches previously with the New York Mets: third base coach Gary DiSarcina and bullpen coach Ricky Bones, with incumbent bullpen coach Henry Blanco moving to a newly created position as catching and strategy coach.^[20] The Nationals also replaced head strength and conditioning coach Matt Eiden, promoting Tony Rogowski from a minor league coordinator position to take on the major league coaching job. Minor league pitching coach Sam Narron was named pitching coordinator for the entire player development system, paired with Knorr and Henley in their new development roles.^[14] The Nationals also hired former major league outfielder Coco Crisp as outfield and baserunning coordinator, along with former minor league manager José Alguacil as infield coordinator and former major league infielder Bill Mueller as quality control coordinator.^[17] De Jon Watson, previously a special assistant to general manager Mike Rizzo, was named as the Nationals' new director of player development^[21] after assistant general manager Mark Scialabba, who had overseen player development for the Nationals since 2013,^[22] was reassigned to focus on player personnel.^[23] Organizational stalwart Spin Williams was joined by former Mets bench coach Dave Jauss as senior advisor to Watson in his new player development role. Under Watson, the Nationals made a major expansion to their minor league player development staff over the offseason, creating fourteen new positions and hiring more than 20 new staff members.^[17]

Catcher Alex Avila, left-handed pitcher Luis Avilán, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, infielders Alcides Escobar and Jordy Mercer, and outfielder Gerardo Parra were set to become unrestricted free agents following the 2021 season.^[24] Avila announced on September 19, 2021, that he would retire from professional baseball.^[25] Zimmerman, the Nationals' longest-tenured player and first pick in the 2005 draft, announced his retirement on February 15, 2022.^[26] The Nationals announced a $1 million extension for Escobar through the 2022 season on October 5, 2021, days after the end of the regular season.^[27] Avilán signed a new minor league deal in November to remain with the Nationals as he continued to rehab from Tommy John surgery.^[28] Parra also signed a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.^[29] Additionally, the Nationals saw left-handed pitchers Alberto Baldonado and Sean Nolin and right-handed pitchers Steven Fuentes and Kyle McGowin depart as minor league free agents after they were outrighted to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings.^[30][31] Baldonado, Fuentes, and Nolin signed new minor league contracts to return to the Nationals organization,^[32][33] although the Nationals later released Nolin so he could sign with the Kia Tigers of the KBO League in South Korea.^[34]

The Nationals entered the offseason with ten players expected to be eligible for salary arbitration: right-handed pitchers Erick Fedde, Ryne Harper, Tanner Rainey, Joe Ross, Wander Suero, and Austin Voth, first baseman Josh Bell, and outfielders Víctor Robles, Juan Soto, and Andrew Stevenson.^[35] They avoided arbitration with Stevenson on November 29, signing him to an $850,000 non-guaranteed salary.^[36] Harper and Suero were not tendered new contracts, nor was first baseman Mike Ford, who was not eligible for arbitration.^[37]

Free agents linked to the Nationals in media reports included left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney^[38] (most recently of the Los Angeles Angels; ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers);^[39] outfielders Kyle Schwarber^[40] (most recently of the Boston Red Sox), Seiya Suzuki^[41] (posted by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball), and Chris Taylor^[42] (most recently of the Los Angeles Dodgers; ultimately re-signed with the Dodgers);^[43] and designated hitter Nelson Cruz^[44] (most recently of the Tampa Bay Rays).

For their first offseason acquisition, the Nationals claimed rookie left-handed reliever Francisco Pérez off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians on November 5, 2021.^[31] Washington also claimed infielder Lucius Fox from the interleague-rival Baltimore Orioles on November 30,^[45] furthermore signing free agent infielder César Hernández the same day.^[46]

The offseason was brought to a virtual halt as Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner and 29 other team owners voted unanimously to institute a lockout, due to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement that had been in effect since the 2016 season on December 1, 2021.^[47] During the lockout, the Nationals continued to sign players to minor league contracts, including veteran infielders Dee Strange-Gordon and Maikel Franco^[48] and outfielder Rusney Castillo,^[49] and acquired another player with major league experience, infielder Andrew Young, from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft.^[50] The lockout was in effect for 99 days, delaying the start of spring training and forcing some games in the regular season to be rescheduled, before owners voted unanimously to lift it after a new collective bargaining agreement was agreed to March 10, 2022.^[51]

Following the lockout, the Nationals signed infielder Ehire Adrianza and right-handed reliever Steve Cishek to major league deals announced March 14, 2022.^[52] The Nationals also brought back reliever Sean Doolittle, who served as the team's closer for parts of the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons and departed as a free agent after the 2020 season, announcing a one-year major league pact with the left-hander on March 16.^[53]

Transactions[]

• October 5, 2021: The Nationals signed infielder Alcides Escobar to a one-year contract extension.
• October 13, 2021: The Nationals outrighted left-handed pitchers Alberto Baldonado and Sean Nolin and right-handed pitcher Steven Fuentes to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings; Nolin elected free agency.
• October 18, 2021: The Nationals hired hitting coach Darnell Coles.
• November 3, 2021: The Nationals hired first base coach Eric Young Jr., third base coach Gary DiSarcina, and bullpen coach Ricky Bones.
• November 5, 2021: The Nationals claimed left-handed pitcher Francisco Pérez off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians and outrighted right-handed pitcher Kyle McGowin to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings.
• November 19, 2021: The Nationals selected the contracts of outfielder Donovan Casey and left-handed pitcher Evan Lee.
• November 30, 2021: The Nationals signed infielder César Hernández to a one-year major league contract, claimed infielder Lucius Fox off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, and declined to tender new contracts to right-handed pitchers Ryne Harper and Wander Suero and first baseman Mike Ford.
• March 14, 2022: The Nationals signed infielder Ehire Adrianza and right-handed relief pitcher Steve Cishek to one-year major league contracts.
• March 16, 2022: The Nationals signed left-handed relief pitcher Sean Doolittle to a one-year major league contract.

Spring training[]

The Nationals are holding spring training at their facility at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, which they share with the Houston Astros in their sixth year at the facility.^[54]

Non-roster invitees to major league spring training for the Nationals include right-handed pitchers Víctor Arano, Cade Cavalli, Carl Edwards Jr., Reed Garrett, Erasmo Ramírez, Jefry Rodríguez, Jackson Rutledge, Aaron Sanchez, Aníbal Sánchez, and Jordan Weems; left-handed pitchers Luis Avilán, Alberto Baldonado, and Matt Cronin; catchers Taylor Gushue, Chris Herrmann, Drew Millas, and Israel Pineda; infielders Jackson Cluff, Maikel Franco, Jake Noll, Adrián Sánchez, Dee Strange-Gordon, Richard Ureña, and Andrew Young; and outfielder Gerardo Parra.^[55]

Regular season[]

Opening Day[]

The Nationals are scheduled to open their 2022 season hosting the New York Mets on April 7.

Opening Day lineup[]

Opening Day Starters
Name	Position
–	–
–	–
–	–
–	–
–	–
–	–
–	–
–	–
–	–

Season standings[]

National League East[]

v t NL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Atlanta Braves	0	0	-nan	—	0–0	0–0
Miami Marlins	0	0	-nan	—	0–0	0–0
New York Mets	0	0	-nan	—	0–0	0–0
Philadelphia Phillies	0	0	-nan	—	0–0	0–0
Washington Nationals	0	0	-nan	—	0–0	0–0

National League Wild Card[]

v t Division leaders	W	L	Pct.
Arizona Diamondbacks	0	0	-nan
Atlanta Braves	0	0	-nan
Chicago Cubs	0	0	-nan

v t Wild Card teams (Top 3 teams qualify for postseason)	W	L	Pct.	GB
Cincinnati Reds	0	0	-nan	—
Colorado Rockies	0	0	-nan	—
Los Angeles Dodgers	0	0	-nan	—
Miami Marlins	0	0	-nan	—
Milwaukee Brewers	0	0	-nan	—
New York Mets	0	0	-nan	—
Philadelphia Phillies	0	0	-nan	—
Pittsburgh Pirates	0	0	-nan	—
San Diego Padres	0	0	-nan	—
San Francisco Giants	0	0	-nan	—
St. Louis Cardinals	0	0	-nan	—
Washington Nationals	0	0	-nan	—

Game Log[]

As the 2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout has ended, no games were canceled and the first two series were rescheduled.^[56]

2022 Game Log: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Away: 0–0)
March: 0–0 (Home: 0–0 ; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak - March 31 @ Mets Postponed (lockout) Makeup on October 3
April: 0–0 (Home: 0–0 ; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak - April 2 @ Mets Postponed (lockout) Makeup on October 4 - April 3 @ Mets Postponed (lockout) Makeup on October 5 - April 4 Phillies Postponed (lockout) Makeup on June 17 - April 6 Phillies Postponed (lockout) Makeup on October 1 1 April 7 Mets – — – 2 April 8 Mets – — – 3 April 9 Mets – — – 4 April 10 Mets – — – 5 April 11 @ Braves – — – 6 April 12 @ Braves – — – 7 April 13 @ Braves – — – 8 April 14 @ Pirates – — – 9 April 15 @ Pirates – — – 10 April 16 @ Pirates – — – 11 April 17 @ Pirates – — – 12 April 18 Diamondbacks – — – 13 April 19 Diamondbacks – — – 14 April 20 Diamondbacks – — – 15 April 21 Diamondbacks – — – 16 April 22 Giants – — – 17 April 23 Giants – — – 18 April 24 Giants – — – 19 April 26 Marlins – — – 20 April 27 Marlins – — – 21 April 28 Marlins – — – 22 April 29 @ Giants – — – 23 April 30 @ Giants – — –
May: 0–0 (Home: 0–0 ; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 24 May 1 @ Giants – — – 25 May 3 @ Rockies – — – 26 May 4 @ Rockies – — – 27 May 5 @ Rockies – — – 28 May 6 @ Angels – — – 29 May 7 @ Angels – — – 30 May 8 @ Angels – — – 31 May 10 Mets – — – 32 May 11 Mets – — – 33 May 12 Mets – — – 34 May 13 Astros – — – 35 May 14 Astros – — – 36 May 15 Astros – — – 37 May 16 @ Marlins – — – 38 May 17 @ Marlins – — – 39 May 18 @ Marlins – — – 40 May 20 @ Brewers – — – 41 May 21 @ Brewers – — – 42 May 22 @ Brewers – — – 43 May 23 Dodgers – — – 44 May 24 Dodgers – — – 45 May 25 Dodgers – — – 46 May 26 Rockies – — – 47 May 27 Rockies – — – 48 May 28 Rockies – — – 49 May 29 Rockies – — – 50 May 30 @ Mets – — – 51 May 31 @ Mets – — –
June: 0–0 (Home: 0–0 ; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 52 June 1 @ Mets – — – 53 June 2 @ Reds – — – 54 June 3 @ Reds – — – 55 June 4 @ Reds – — – 56 June 5 @ Reds – — – 57 June 7 @ Marlins – — – 58 June 8 @ Marlins – — – 59 June 9 @ Marlins – — – 60 June 10 Brewers – — – 61 June 11 Brewers – — – 62 June 12 Brewers – — – 63 June 13 Braves – — – 64 June 14 Braves – — – 65 June 15 Braves – — – 66 June 16 Phillies – — – 67 June 17 (1) Phillies – — – 68 June 17 (2) Phillies – — – 69 June 18 Phillies – — – 70 June 19 Phillies – — – 71 June 21 @ Orioles – — – 72 June 22 @ Orioles – — – 73 June 24 @ Rangers – — – 74 June 25 @ Rangers – — – 75 June 26 @ Rangers – — – 76 June 27 Pirates – — – 77 June 28 Pirates – — – 78 June 29 Pirates – — –
July: 0–0 (Home: 0–0 ; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 79 July 1 Marlins – — – 80 July 2 Marlins – — – 81 July 3 Marlins – — – 82 July 4 Marlins – — – 83 July 5 @ Phillies – — – 84 July 6 @ Phillies – — – 85 July 7 @ Phillies – — – 86 July 8 @ Braves – — – 87 July 9 @ Braves – — – 88 July 10 @ Braves – — – 89 July 12 Mariners – — – 90 July 13 Mariners – — – 91 July 14 Braves – — – 92 July 15 Braves – — – 93 July 16 Braves – — – 94 July 17 Braves – — – All–Star Break (July 18–21) 95 July 22 Diamondbacks – — – 96 July 23 Diamondbacks – — – 97 July 24 Diamondbacks – — – 98 July 25 @ Dodgers – — – 99 July 26 @ Dodgers – — – 100 July 27 @ Dodgers – — – 101 July 29 Cardinals – — – 102 July 30 Cardinals – — – 103 July 31 Cardinals – — –
August: 0–0 (Home: 0–0 ; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 104 August 1 Mets – — – 105 August 2 Mets – — – 106 August 3 Mets – — – 107 August 4 @ Phillies – — – 108 August 5 @ Phillies – — – 109 August 6 @ Phillies – — – 110 August 7 @ Phillies – — – 111 August 8 @ Cubs – — – 112 August 9 @ Cubs – — – 113 August 10 @ Cubs – — – 114 August 12 Padres – — – 115 August 13 Padres – — – 116 August 14 Padres – — – 117 August 15 Cubs – — – 118 August 16 Cubs – — – 119 August 17 Cubs – — – 120 August 18 @ Padres – — – 121 August 19 @ Padres – — – 122 August 20 @ Padres – — – 123 August 21 @ Padres – — – 124 August 23 @ Mariners – — – 125 August 24 @ Mariners – — – 126 August 26 Reds – — – 127 August 27 Reds – — – 128 August 28 Reds – — – 129 August 30 Athletics – — – 130 August 31 Athletics – — –
September: 0–0 (Home: 0–0 ; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 131 September 1 Athletics – — – 132 September 2 @ Mets – — – 133 September 3 @ Mets – — – 134 September 4 @ Mets – — – 135 September 5 @ Cardinals – — – 136 September 6 @ Cardinals – — – 137 September 7 @ Cardinals – — – 138 September 8 @ Cardinals – — – 139 September 9 @ Phillies – — – 140 September 10 @ Phillies – — – 141 September 11 @ Phillies – — – 142 September 13 Orioles – — – 143 September 14 Orioles – — – 144 September 16 Marlins – — – 145 September 17 Marlins – — – 146 September 18 Marlins – — – 147 September 19 @ Braves – — – 148 September 20 @ Braves – — – 149 September 21 @ Braves – — – 150 September 23 @ Marlins – — – 151 September 24 @ Marlins – — – 152 September 25 @ Marlins – — – 153 September 26 Braves – — – 154 September 27 Braves – — – 155 September 28 Braves – — – 156 September 30 Phillies – — –
October: 0–0 (Home: 0–0 ; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 157 October 1 (1) Phillies – — – 158 October 1 (2) Phillies – — – 159 October 2 Phillies – — – 160 October 3 @ Mets – — – 161 October 4 @ Mets – — – 162 October 5 @ Mets – — –
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement Bold = Nationals team member

Current roster[]

Washington Nationals 2022 spring training roster v t
40-man roster				Non-roster invitees		Coaches/Other
Pitchers 60 Joan Adon 63 Gerardo Carrillo 33 Steve Cishek 49 Sam Clay 46 Patrick Corbin 62 Sean Doolittle 30 Paolo Espino 23 Erick Fedde 67 Kyle Finnegan 40 Josiah Gray 36 Will Harris 68 Gabe Klobosits 70 Evan Lee 57 Andrés Machado 52 Patrick Murphy 65 Francisco Pérez 21 Tanner Rainey 13 Josh Rogers 73 Jhon Romero 56 Seth Romero 37 Stephen Strasburg 71 Mason Thompson 50 Austin Voth		Catchers 15 Riley Adams 38 Tres Barrera 20 Keibert Ruiz Infielders  5 Ehire Adrianza 19 Josh Bell  3 Alcides Escobar 39 Lucius Fox  2 Luís García  1 César Hernández  8 Carter Kieboom Outfielders 45 Yasel Antuna 44 Donovan Casey 29 Yadiel Hernández 16 Víctor Robles 22 Juan Soto 17 Andrew Stevenson 28 Lane Thomas		Pitchers -- Víctor Arano -- Luis Avilán -- Alberto Baldonado -- Cade Cavalli -- Matt Cronin -- Carl Edwards Jr. -- Reed Garrett -- Erasmo Ramírez -- Jefry Rodríguez -- Jackson Rutledge -- Aaron Sanchez -- Aníbal Sánchez -- Jordan Weems Catchers -- Taylor Gushue -- Chris Herrmann -- Drew Millas -- Israel Pineda Infielders -- Jackson Cluff -- Maikel Franco -- Jake Noll -- Adrián Sánchez -- Dee Strange-Gordon -- Richard Ureña -- Andrew Young Outfielders 88 Gerardo Parra		Manager  4 Dave Martinez Coaches 35 Henry Blanco (coaching/strategy) 24 Tim Bogar (bench) -- Ricky Bones (bullpen)  7 Darnell Coles (hitting) -- Gary DiSarcina (third base coach) 48 Jim Hickey (pitching) 87 Octavio Martinez (bullpen catcher) 66 Pat Roessler (assistant hitting) 26 Brandon Snyder (bullpen catcher) -- Eric Young Jr. (first base coach) 60-day injured list 41 Joe Ross 40 active, 0 inactive, 25 non-roster invitees 7- or 10-day injured list * Not on active roster † Suspended list Roster, coaches, and NRIs updated March 16, 2022 Transactions • Depth chart → All MLB rosters

Statistics[]

Hitting[]

Pitching[]

Awards and honors[]

All-Stars[]

Farm system[]

Level	Team	League	Manager
Triple-A	Rochester Red Wings	International League	Matt LeCroy
Double-A	Harrisburg Senators	Eastern League	Tripp Keister
High-A	Wilmington Blue Rocks	South Atlantic League	Mario Lisson
Low-A	Fredericksburg Nationals	Carolina League	Jake Lowery
Rookie	FCL Nationals	Florida Complex League	Luis Ordaz
Rookie	DSL Nationals	Dominican Summer League	Sandy Martínez

Broadcasting[]

The Nationals are minority owners of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, which they share with the Baltimore Orioles under an agreement brokered by Major League Baseball.^[57]

The Nationals are scheduled to bring back veteran play-by-play television commentator Bob Carpenter for the 2022 season as well as the . He will be paired with new color commentator Kevin Frandsen, who played for the Nationals during the 2014 season.^[58] Color analyst F. P. Santangelo, originally hired ahead of the 2011 season, parted ways with MASN and the Nationals following the 2021 season.^[59]

Dave Jageler and Charlie Slowes are scheduled to call their 17th consecutive season together as the Nationals' play-by-play radio commentators.^[58]

References[]

External links[]

• 2022 Washington Nationals season at Baseball Reference