Washington Nationals news & notes: Nats ran wild in 2024 + more…

Dylan Crews talked shortly after he received the decision to make his MLB debut about how the massive league membership in D.C.’s method to the working recreation actually match with the way in which he performs.

“I feel this group positively matches into my method so far as aggressiveness,” the 2023 1st Spherical decide defined.

“We’re an aggressive group. We need to steal bases, flip a single right into a double, no matter it’s. I feel it’s superior to see the way it transitions into my recreation.”

Crews stole 12 in 15 makes an attempt in 31 video games within the majors, after stealing 29 in 40 makes an attempt on his approach up via the minors.

Washington’s rookie outfielder was one in all 23 completely different Nationals with a minimum of one SB on the yr, “… probably the most in MLB … and probably the most because the 1917 Pittsburgh Pirates additionally had 23,” the membership famous of their 2024 Season in Assessment.

Andres Chaparro, acquired in a deadline take care of the D-Backs, turned the twenty third participant to steal a base for the Nationals, his solely profitable try of the season after the 25-year-old infielder was caught making an attempt to swipe one a month earlier.

It was Chaparro’s thirty first try and steal a base in eight seasons as a professional, and his twentieth profitable try, however apparently the aggressive method on the bases in D.C. was contagious. Chaparro was actually wanting to contribute to the group complete.

“I suppose Chappy was over there telling [first-base coach Gerardo] Parra, ‘Can I am going? Can I am going? Can I am going?’ proper from the primary pitch,” Martinez advised reporters, as quoted by MLB.com reporter Jessica Camerato after Chaparro’s lone stolen base on the yr.

“Parra says, ‘Keep proper right here till you see the signal.’ I like that, however we’ve received to be good about it.”

Washington’s 223 stolen bases as a membership led the majors.

Additionally they led the majors with 73 complete would-be base-stealers thrown out.

“Now the following step,” Martinez stated, “… is to know when to steal bases, the chance that arises, to be prepared on a regular basis. I do know they’re prepared, however selecting alternatives the place it’s helpful to us, not simply getting over there and run simply to run. These are the issues that they’ve received to be taught. They’re younger they usually’re keen, they need to go. Everyone desires to steal.”

A give attention to the working recreation was the plan from the beginning final season, Martinez famous, recognizing what kind of roster he had and acknowledging the necessity to create alternatives to attain runs moderately than wait for large hits/residence runs.

“I stated this from the start, we’ve received to create various things,” Martinez stated.

“This yr, stealing bases was very, essential for us. Operating the bases nicely was essential to us. We’ve had our flaws, however I feel total we’ve achieved a greater job with that.”