OPINION:
When the Washington Nationals take the field for opening day Thursday at Nationals Park, fans will see a familiar face in the Philadelphia Phillies’ opposing lineup – Bryce Harper.
The Nationals’ former Most Valuable Player and top draft choice will be starting his seventh season with the Phillies.
That’s how long he was in a Nationals uniform, if you count his April 28, 2012, call-up. The clock, though, on Harper’s departure from Washington didn’t start ticking until the beginning of the 2013 season.
So pay attention Thursday to the hopes of the Nationals’ future in the Washington lineup — outfielders James Wood and Dylan Crews.
You might have seen both of them last year after each was called up – Wood on July 1, Crews on Aug. 23. But Thursday is when the clock starts ticking on both of them. So, Washington better make the most of their time in a Nationals uniform. Before you know it, they are in the opposing lineup.
Washington, as it once did with Harper and Stephen Strasburg, is pinning its hopes for 2025 and beyond on two promising young players in Wood and Crews.
Neither is as heralded as either of those two older Nationals stars — but they are carrying a heavier load.
When Harper arrived, he joined Strasburg on a roster that included proven veterans Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche. Harper was a piece — a big piece — but a piece of the puzzle.
Wood, 22, who hit nine home runs and drove in 41 runs while batting .264 in 79 games and Crews, 23, who hit just three home runs, drove in eight runs and batted only .219 in 31 games, are carrying the bulk of this team’s promise in the lineup for 2025, save for All-Star shortstop C.J. Abrams, who was last seen demoted to the minor leagues after being in a Chicago casino all night before an August 2024 day game.
Wood and Crews are the core of the group of up-and-coming players.
For any progress beyond last year’s 71-91 record — their fifth straight losing season since the 2019 World Series championship — they have to play well.
“I still believe our young players are the key to our success,” manager Dave Martinez said. “We did add some veteran guys and some guys in the middle of the lineup that could help drive in some runs. But our young core of players are going to get us where we need to be.”
Martinez was likely talking about first baseman Nathaniel Lowe when he pines for someone, anyone, to drive in some more runs.
Lowe was obtained in a trade with the Texas Rangers for reliever Robert Garcia and free agents Josh Bell as the designated hitter and third baseman Paul DeJong.
All could add production to a weak offense (25th in runs scored last season).
But these are not the additions that the front office wanted to make.
The goal was to add more production — maybe 60 home runs — and they believed they were making a big step toward that goal by courting free agent first baseman Christian Walker and his 95 home runs over the last three seasons, even making a trip to Walker’s home in South Carolina.
But the Lerner family balked when the price and term went to three years and $60 million, and Walker signed with the Astros.
Washington general manager Mike Rizzo rebounded nicely with the deal to acquire Lowe, who hit 16 home runs and drove in 69 runs in 140 games with the Texas Rangers last season.
But it is important to note that the support the baseball people in the organization sought for their young core of players is not what they wound up with because of ownership’s lack of commitment to owning a baseball team.
There’s more to the core than Crew and Wood. There is a young, unproven pitching staff with promise, led by opening day starter MacKenzie Gore, coming off a 10-12 record in 32 starts with a 4.13 ERA, who, like Wood, came over in the 2022 trade with the San Diego Padres for Juan Soto. The clocking is ticking on the 26-year-old Gore, too.
What clock, you say? The free agency departure clock (2028 for Gore, 2031 for Wood and Crews).
The Lerners have been defined by that clock costing the franchise its best players — to the point of overshadowing their successful run of four National League East division titles, a Wild Card berth and a World Series championship.
It is why it is important, if Wood, Crews and the rest of the youth movement lift this team, to capitalize on every moment they are here.
• Catch Thom Loverro on The Kevin Sheehan Show podcast.
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