The race for the final bench spot is hotly contested with three very different candidates
There are a number of roster decisions Davey Martinez still has to make with the season right around the corner. While the battle for spots on the pitching staff have taken up most of the headlines, there is still a spot on the bench up for grabs. Riley Adams, Alex Call, and Amed Rosario all have bench slots locked up, but there is one spot remaining.
This camp battle intrigues me because the three options are so different. Jose Tena, Juan Yepez, and Nasim Nunez have such different skillsets, but are all fighting for the same role.
Yepez’s game is all about his bat. He is mostly a first baseman, but the Nats have given him some looks in left field this spring. While he has not had the best spring, Yepez had a very strong 2024 after he got called up in July. In 62 games, Yepez hit .283 with a .764 OPS. He tapered off after a red hot July, but those are still very strong numbers. Yepez is the best hitter of the group, but offers the least defensive value. With Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell in the fold, do the Nationals really need a 1B/DH type on the bench?
Nasim Nunez is the polar opposite of Yepez. He is an impeccable defender who plays a beautiful shortstop, but his bat is limiting. Nunez was the Nationals Rule 5 pick last year, so he stayed on the big league roster all of 2024. However, he did not see much action, with only 61 at bats, many of which came late in the season after CJ Abrams suspension/demotion.
He was not expected to make the roster, but has hit really well this spring, going 13/28 at the plate. Spring Training numbers need to be taken with a grain of salt, but he does look to be hitting the ball with more authority. Nunez brings a lot of value as a defensive replacement and pinch runner. His profile is all about speed and defense. However, the Nats might want to see him get everyday reps in Triple-A.
The last option is Jose Tena. Before the Nats signed Paul Dejong, he was the favorite to be the starting third baseman. However, with the arrival Dejong and a 5/32 spring, Tena’s spot on the roster is in jeopardy. Tena came over from Cleveland in the Lane Thomas trade and saw plenty of action down the stretch in 2024 with mixed results.
He has a more balanced profile than Nunez or Yepez. Tena has a better hitting track record than Nunez and more defensive value than Yepez. The soon to be 24 year old can play all over the infield and hits the ball with authority. However, with a slow spring and Amed Rosario taking up the role as versatile infielder, does Tena fit in?
This camp battle is so unpredictable because it comes down to what Davey Martinez wants. All three guys bring different things to the table and have different skillsets. The question is which skillset will the Nationals value. I am not sure, which is why this battle is so hotly contested.