Spring Training Minute — Feb. 16
Welcome to the Spring Training Minute! Check back at the end of each day for a daily glimpse and what’s happening in West Palm Beach as the Nationals prepare for the 2019 season.
Today’s Action
The pitchers and catchers continued their time together on Saturday, with the first group of pitchers returning to the “14-pack” for bullpen sessions. A lot of the talk around the clubhouse following the workout was about Washington’s new backstops, Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki, getting to know the staff.
Suzuki caught Max Scherzer, while Gomes caught Patrick Corbin. At one point during Scherzer’s session, pitching coach Derek Lilliquist challenged the battery to simulate a batter in the box. Suzuki chose former Atlanta Braves teammate and new division rival, Ronald Acuña Jr.
During Corbin’s session, Lilliquist himself stepped into the box to give his new pupil a look. While “batting” right-handed, Lilliqust politely asked that Corbin avoid throwing any back-foot sliders.
Tomorrow’s Plan
Sunday marks another day of pitchers and catchers working together before the whole squad gets together on Tuesday.
Speaking of position players, Ryan Zimmerman arrived at the facility today. He was joined by Andrew Stevenson as well as non-roster invitees Brandon Snyder and Chuck Taylor.
Quotes of Note
Dave Martinez on the combination of Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki:
“Their value to our team is incredible, especially with our starting pitching. They’re both going to play a lot and they understand that, so how we work it, we will figure that out.
They’re on board with everything. What a treat to listen to those guys talk with the pitchers and converse and communicate. It’s been outstanding.”
Kurt Suzuki on facing Max Scherzer as an opponent:
“He doesn’t give you many pitchers to hit, so you better hit them early. You cant try to wait him out. When he settles in, he’s tough.”
Suzuki also talked about his motivation going into this season:
“Winning a World Series is getting pretty important to me now.”
New National of the Day
Yan Gomes was acquired by the Nationals at the end of November and this Spring Training, he is tasked with getting to know a whole new pitching staff. Gomes talked to the media about how he is getting to know these pitchers:
“First I just kind of want to get to know them, get to know them on a personal level because once things get going it becomes easier to talk to each other instead of our relationship just being built on the numbers out there. I kind of want to build the relationship first then get to the baseball stuff.”
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