The Washington Nationals have undergone a rebuilding phase in the past few years. This came after their World Series win in 2019, followed by finishing last in the National League East for the next four years. Despite standing at 61-73 in late August, five Nationals hitters have made significant contributions at the plate in 2024 after spending considerable time in the minors.
Nationals Hitters Who Are on the Rise
James Wood
James Wood made his highly anticipated debut on July 1. While the first few weeks were a bit iffy for Wood, he has slowly regained the form that showed what a great power hitter he was in the minors. As of August 30, the 21-year-old posts a slash line of .280/.377/.430 with five home runs, 31 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and an OPS of .807. A couple of interesting stats include Wood batting .347/.462/.561 within his last 28 games.
21-year-old James Wood is slashing .347/.462/.561 in his last 28 games ??
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) August 27, 2024
The only players with a higher OBP since July 27 are Aaron Judge, Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Joc Pederson. (min. 75 PA)#NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/82qXuG5Wo5
28 games.
Dylan Crews
Dylan Crews was called up earlier this week. This past week, he made his Washington debut in a three-game home series against the New York Yankees. While he finished without a hit in the first contest, the 22-year-old outfielder went off in the next two games, totalling four hits, two doubles, two runs, two RBI, and his first major league homer that he launched on Wednesday. His slash line after that series is an impressive .364/.417/.818, as he seems to fit in the outfield alongside Wood and Jacob Young.
Andres Chaparro
Andres Chaparro was acquired at the trade deadline from the Arizona Diamondbacks for reliever Dylan Floro. After spending multiple seasons within the Diamondbacks and Yankees farm systems, Chaparro finally made his big league debut in Washington in mid-August and is hitting a solid .255/.309/.451. On Tuesday, the Venezuelan infielder launched his first home run off of reigning Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole.
José Tena
The Nationals acquired José Tena from the Cleveland Guardians, trading away outfielder Lane Thomas. This transaction has tipped in favor of Washington. Tena has significantly impacted the team, boasting impressive statistics with a .333/.358/.471. Additionally, he has contributed seven RBI and hit two home runs. For Thomas, he has not lived up to expectations of the trade to Cleveland, failing to deliver the performance that was anticipated from him.
Juan Yepez
Juan Yepez, 26, is the Venezuelan outfielder who made his highly anticipated Washington debut on July 5. Fans and analysts alike were eager to see how he would perform, and he did not disappoint. Making an immediate impact at the plate, he achieved an impressive feat by recording a hit in each of his first 15 appearances. Within just two months, Yepez has displayed his batting prowess with a notable .285/.335/.448 batting line. Additionally, he has showcased his power with five home runs, demonstrating his ability to contribute to the team’s offensive production
Main Photo: © Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports
