The Nationals shortcomings defensively have been properly documented each on right here and by the fanbase as a complete. Whereas they aren’t getting a lot worth from a number of key place, resembling shortstop and second base, the most important offender dragging down the unit as a complete is their catching tandem of Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams. When it comes to FRV (Fielding Run Worth), Ruiz is the worst certified defensive catcher in baseball, with Riley Adams coming in at tenth worst once you shrink the innings restrict.
You could possibly probably stay with their defensive woes if their bats made up for it, however they don’t, with Ruiz 72 wRC+ rating final amongst all certified catchers in baseball and Adams -13 wRC+ being, properly, self explanatory.
So how do the Nats go about fixing their catching downside? Effectively for starters, it’s time they acquired some optimistic worth on not less than one aspect of the ball. Looking forward to the 2026 catcher free agent class, the choices aren’t thrilling, with 35 yr previous JT Realmuto and 36 yr previous Salvador Perez, each who’re having their worst seasons in a very long time, main the category. Outdoors of them, it’s a number of uninspiring choices resembling Danny Jansen and Christian Vazquez, actually good blockers however dangerous framers and bats.
Assuming a super commerce candidate doesn’t simply pop up out of the blue, what can the Nats do to get some type of worth out of the catcher place? I suggest that it’s time they go all in on protection behind the dish and signal the most effective defenders in baseball in Austin Hedges, and I’ve 2 particular explanation why.
The primary cause Austin Hedges can be a giant improve for the Nats behind the dish is his prowess defensively. Hedges has by no means been even a league common hitter on the large league degree, but it surely’s by no means mattered due to how nice he’s defensively. He persistently grades out as the most effective framers in MLB, coming in on the 87th percentile thus far in 2025, 82nd percentile in 2024, and 98th percentile in 2023.
No staff steals much less pitches from framing than the Nats do, and the distinction Hedges would make for the pitching employees in stealing strikes can be night time and day. Hedges may also shut down a run recreation, rating 97th percentile in caught stealings above common within the league in 2025. Whereas he isn’t grading out as an above common blocker in 2025 at the moment, that is seemingly as a result of a small pattern dimension as he at all times grades out across the ninetieth percentile in blocks above common. Hedges is the complete bundle defensively and in flip improves the pitching employees due to his expertise and skills.
Austin Hedges is one in every of baseball’s greatest receivers. The night time earlier than final he transformed 20 pitches into known as strikes. Alex Tosi was the umpire & he hardly ever expands the zone. Discover how aggressive his strikes are.(Particularly on pitches up within the zone) pic.twitter.com/ey55o8Sb1L
— Jerry Weinstein (@JWonCATCHING) April 13, 2025
The second cause Hedges can be an improve at catcher for the Nats is his renown as a clubhouse chief and the power for him to mentor Keibert Ruiz. Hedges received the World Sequence with the the Rangers again in 2023, and was thought-about one of many leaders within the clubhouse regardless of being the backup catcher. He’s since spent 2 years in Cleveland, the place he’s a revered vet who has mentored their younger catcher Bo Naylor right into a a lot better defender behind the dish.
Hedges has been catching at a excessive degree for a few years now and brings a degree of experience that the Nationals catching coaches in all probability don’t have. The Nats are tied financially to Keibert Ruiz till not less than 2030, so until they plan to eat the prices of the contract, he’ll be round in at minimal a backup position for a very long time. Due to this fact, they might as properly do every little thing of their energy to enhance the defensive aspect of his recreation and, if he turns it round with the bat, permit him to succeed in his full potential.
“We simply do not take video games off. We’re right here to play 9 innings and we’re right here to deal with every recreation like it’s a playoff recreation.”
Austin Hedges displays on the @CleGuardians’ mindset and the way he is ended up with the position of clubhouse chief in his profession.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/JxYj0w2iwb
— FanDuel Sports activities Community Cleveland (@FanDuelSN_CLE) Could 22, 2024
Hedges isn’t gonna be a spark within the lineup as a full time starter, and he’s a man you’ll need to pinch hit for late in shut video games nearly each likelihood you get. However the Nats are hardly getting a lot offensive manufacturing out of the catcher place anyway, and are additionally getting nothing defensively. Hedges will are available in and be one of the best defender behind the dish in Nats historical past, and be a optimistic affect within the clubhouse for not solely the opposite catchers, however for all the kids. Ideally, someday sooner or later both the Nats produce a high quality catcher from their farm or are in a position to purchase one both by free company or commerce, however till then, Hedges will preserve them from getting adverse worth behind the dish year-after-year.
