Nationals second baseman Wilmer Difo stood on the infield dirt in a nearly-empty Nationals Park on Wednesday afternoon, more than three hours before the first pitch.
Next to him was Tim Bogar, the first base coach for the Nationals. Bogar, a former major league infielder, demonstrated a backhand-fielding motion to Difo, who is again the team’s regular second baseman after veteran Daniel Murphy was traded to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
Difo, 26, is no stranger to the lineup, having played in 114 games this season and 284 overall with the Nationals.
“He gets on base, makes unbelievable plays at second base,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.
Difo, who homered in Tuesday’s start, and other younger players may see more action in the coming weeks as the Nationals try desperately to make a playoff push.
“Now is the time for the young guys to step up and show what they got, and show the baseball world what they are made of and what we are made of,” Nationals pitcher Tanner Roark said before Wednesday’s game against the Phillies.
The third-place Nationals (63-63) entered Wednesday 7.5 games back of first-place Atlanta in the National League East.
The Nationals also traded veteran first baseman/left fielder Matt Adams on Tuesday to the St. Louis Cardinals. Murphy hit .300 this season for the Nationals while Adams slugged 18 homers in limited time.
“We lost two great guys,” Roark said. “Murphy was a huge leader in here and always spoke up and gave us pep talks and fired us up. It was tough losing both of those guys. It is part of the game, there is nothing we can do about. I still feel we have a great clubhouse, and we still have a chance. We have a month left. We are just going to keep playing … the old cliché of one game at a time. We have to win every series.”
Outfielder Andrew Stevenson is another Nationals player who is getting an immediate chance to contribute. Stevenson, 24, was called up from Triple-A Syracuse along with infielder Adrian Sanchez to take Murphy and Adams’ roster spots.
Stevenson drove from Syracuse in the rain Tuesday and arrived at Nationals Park after the first pitch.
After a rain delay, Stevenson was used as a pinch hitter and slammed his first major league home run. Stevenson was hitting .271 in 48 at-bats for the Nationals through Tuesday and he also played in 37 games last season as a rookie.
Outfielder Bryce Harper, starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez and starting catcher Matt Wieters are the other soon-to-be free agents on the Nationals. Spencer Kieboom, 27, is the backup catcher.
Right-handed pitcher Wander Suero, 26, has a 3.34 ERA in 25 relief outings.
“He’s attacking the strike zone, pitching really well,” Martinez said of Suero.
Another young player with some big league experience who could see action is pitcher Erick Fedde, 26, who has been on the disabled list since July 5 with right shoulder inflammation.
Fedde made a minor league rehab start Monday for Double-A Harrisburg and is eligible to return to the Nationals early next month. He is 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA in six starts this season after making three starts last year.
“Obviously we are going to miss Murphy and Adams,” Fedde said. “I want to get back and help this team win as many games as possible. I understand the moves had to be made. But I think we are confident of trying to make the playoffs. It is a next-guy-up mentality. Hopefully, the young guys can step up.”
Other young players who could be with the Nationals in September include infield prospect Carter Kieboom, 20, who has been playing shortstop at Double-A Harrisburg, and pitcher Kyle McGowin, 26, who has gone from Single-A Potomac to Triple-A Syracuse this season. He had a 1.60 ERA with a WHIP of 0.71 in his first five starts at Syracuse.
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