Nats look back, then ahead
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Carter Kieboom, a rookie who will get a shot to be the Washington Nationals’ starting third baseman on opening day, took grounders alongside Asdrúbal Cabrera, a versatile, 14th-year infielder who was among seven free agents returning to the World Series champions.
Across the diamond on Field 3 at the club’s spring training facility, Ryan Zimmerman, another one of those returnees, shared duties at first base with Eric Thames, one of the few new faces expected to be on the 26-man roster.
A short while later Tuesday, at Field 6, slugging left fielder Juan Soto sent kids chasing balls that flew over the wall as he joined Howie Kendrick and Cabrera for the first round of batting practice.
As the Nationals engaged in their first fullsquad workout, manager Dave Martinez’s message was simple: Go ahead and think about the special moments of 2019, but also make sure to realize it’s time to start over.
“It’s 2020 now. At some point, you have to turn the page,” said Zimmerman, back for his 16th season and the only player to be with the Nationals every year they have been in the nation’s capital. “No one will ever take that year away from us, obviously. But for us to succeed this year, we have to move forward.”
First, there will be some more reflecting in the days to come.
Some of that happened Tuesday, when Martinez gathered everyone for the daily top-of-the-morning “Circle of Trust,” with all players and staff members, general manager Mike Rizzo and owner Mark Lerner meeting for more than a half-hour, standing on a team logo on an artificial turf agility field.
Nearby, a drill whirred as a sign marking the team’s Fall Classic triumph was affixed to a wall near a door leading to the home clubhouse.
Wednesday and Thursday will bring finger measurements, so championship rings can be sized. A parade honoring the team will be held in West Palm Beach on Thursday.
On Saturday, Washington will face the team it beat in the World Series — and the team it shares this complex with, and the team at the center of a sign-stealing scandal that is the talk of the baseball — in a Grapefruit League opener.
And on April 4, at the second game of the season at Nationals Park, the title rings will be distributed.
“I like what Davey said: ‘It’s not about trying to repeat, it’s about trying to compete.’ That’s why we were great last year. We competed,” shortstop Trea Turner said.