Game Thread: Marlins vs. Nats in West Palm Beach
The Nationals will get a look at top prospects Alex Clemmey and Eli Willits, plus catcher Harry Ford, this afternoon
It’s a quick turnaround for the Nationals from Friday night’s game against the Mets to today’s 12:05 p.m. first pitch against the Marlins. So, understandably, you’re not going to see a lot of regulars in Blake Butera’s lineup for this one. What you will see, however, are two top prospects called up from minor-league camp for the day and getting a rare chance to start a big-league game.
Alex Clemmey, the 20-year-old left-hander acquired from the Guardians in the Lane Thomas trade, will start this afternoon’s game. At 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, he’s all arms and legs and put up big strikeout numbers last season at Single-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg (10.5 per nine innings). It will be interesting to see how he handles this high-profile assignment.
Eli Willits, the 18-year-old shortstop selected No. 1 in the country last summer, did get to appear in the Nats’ Grapefruit League opener last month, but that was a bench appearance that included only one plate appearance. This time around, he’ll get to start and bat ninth, offering the coaching staff a more comprehensive look at his abilities in a real game situation.
Also notable about today’s lineup: Harry Ford is officially back. The 23-year-old catcher, fresh off a successful stint playing for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic, is starting and batting second this afternoon. He’s got a little more than a week to make his case for a spot on the Opening Day roster, with club officials debating whether he should make the team and split playing time with Keibert Ruiz or open the season at Triple-A Rochester and get more at-bats.
No television coverage of today’s game, but Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler are back in West Palm Beach and will have the call on 980 AM.
MIAMI MARLINS vs. WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches
Gametime: 12:05 p.m. EDT
TV: None
Radio: 980 AM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees, wind 6 mph in from right
MARLINS
DH Heriberto Hernández
1B Griffin Conine
RF Kemp Alderman
LF Ethan O’Donnell
C Bennett Hostetler
CF Dillon Lewis
SS Johnny Olmstead
3B Dillon Jasso
2B Juan Matheus
LHP Cade Gibson
NATIONALS
2B José Tena
C Harry Ford
3B Brady House
1B Andrés Chaparro
CF Robert Hassell III
DH Abimelec Ortiz
LF Joey Wiemer
RF Christian Franklin
SS Eli Willits
LHP Alex Clemmey
UPDATE: The Nationals reassigned corner infielder Yohandy Morales to minor-league camp shortly before today’s game. That reduces the healthy spring training roster to 40.
For those who didn't see, the Nationals reassigned Yohandy Morales to minor-league camp shortly before first pitch. No real surprise there; Morales was unlikely to beat out Andres Chaparro to be the right-handed first baseman. That move leaves the spring training roster at 40.
I do wish Nationals TV would give us more spring training games. This is the most important Spring the team has had since moving. I would have liked to watch it today.