The Washington Nationals open the 2018 campaign on Friday, March 30 in Cincinnati. Here's the Opening Day roster.
WASHINGTON — Baseball is back, and with it the Opening Day, 25-man roster for each club. While there will be additions and subtractions throughout the season, these are the 25 players that will take the field for the Washington Nationals Friday as they open the season in Cincinnati.
Each positional category is listed alphabetically, with each set of players also listed alphabetically within that category. There is a handful of additions beyond the initial 25, which are players on the Major League disabled list (marked by asterisk).
Catchers
Miguel Montero
Born: July 9, 1983 — Caracas, Venezuela
Acquired: Non-roster invitee to 2018 Spring Training
Notable numbers: Two-time All-Star, has hit 10 or more home runs in seven different seasons.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Matt Wieters
Born: May 21, 1986 — Goose Creek, South Carolina
Acquired: Signed as free agent, Feb. 24, 2017
Notable numbers: Four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner, has notched double-digit home runs in every season where he’s played at least 100 games.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Infielders
Matt Adams
Born: Aug. 31, 1988 — Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
Acquired: Signed as a free agent, Dec. 22, 2017
Notable numbers: Career-high 20 home runs in 2017, career .828 OPS vs. right-handed pitching.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Wilmer Difo
Born: Apr. 2, 1992 — Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
Acquired: Signed as an amateur free agent, June 3, 2010
Notable numbers: Has stolen 178 bases in his minor league career at a 79.5 percent clip — is 13 of 14 at the big league level.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Daniel Murphy*
Born: Apr. 1, 1985 — Jacksonville, Florida
Acquired: Signed as a free agent, Jan. 6, 2016
Notable numbers: Led league in doubles each of the last two seasons, also his only seasons clearing 20 home runs (25 in 2016, 23 in 2017). Won Silver Slugger Award both seasons and finished second in NL MVP race in 2016.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Trea Turner
Born: June 30, 1993 — Boynton Beach, Florida
Acquired: Traded from the San Diego Padres June 14, 2015 as the player to be named later to complete the deal that also included Joe Ross from Dec. 19, 2014.
Notable numbers: Stole 46 bases in just 98 games last year and has 81 steals in 97 attempts (83.5 percent) in 198 career MLB games.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Anthony Rendon
Born: June 6, 1990 — Houston, Texas
Acquired: Drafted in the first round (6th overall) of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft
Notable numbers: Posted the second Top 6 NL MVP finish of his career in 2017, when he set career highs in doubles (41), home runs (25), RBI (100), batting average (.301), on-base percentage (.403), and slugging percentage (.533).
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Ryan Zimmerman
Born: Sept. 28, 1984 — Washington, North Carolina
Acquired: Drafted in the first round (4th overall) of the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft
Notable numbers: A two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and Golden Glove Award-winner, Zimmerman owns nearly every career record in Nationals history. He has appeared in a Nats uniform in every season the team has been in D.C.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Outfielders
Adam Eaton
Born: Dec. 6, 1988 — Springfield, Ohio
Acquired: Traded from the Chicago White Sox, Dec. 7, 2016
Notable numbers: Notched at least nine triples each of the three years before his trade to Washington, during which he also posted near identical on-base percentages of .362, .361, and .362 in consecutive seasons.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Brian Goodwin
Born: Nov. 2, 1990 — Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Acquired: Drafted in the first round (34th overall) of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft
Notable numbers: Hit 13 home runs in just 278 plate appearances as a rookie in 2017 … has not been caught in six stolen base attempts as a big leaguer.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Bryce Harper
Born: Oct. 16, 1992 — Las Vegas, Nevada
Acquired: Drafted in the first round (1st overall) of the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft
Notable numbers: Finished 12th in the MVP race despite playing just 111 games in an injury-shortened 2017 season. Is one of only 14 players in MLB history to reach 150 career home runs through his age 24 season.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Howie Kendrick
Born: July 12, 1983 — Jacksonville, Florida
Acquired: Traded from Philadelphia Phillies July 28, 2017 (re-signed Jan. 18, 2018)
Notable numbers: A 2011 All-Star, posted arguably the best season of his career in 2017, slashing .315/.368/.475 with nine home runs in just 91 games. Has played every position on the field except shortstop, pitcher and catcher in his career.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Michael A. Taylor
Born: Mar. 26, 1991 — Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Acquired: Drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft
Notable numbers: Posted career highs in most offensive categories in 2017 … homered in back-to-back at-bats in the 2017 NLDS, a grand slam in the eighth inning of Game 4 and a three-run shot in the second inning of Game 5.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Pitchers
Joaquin Benoit*
Born: July 26, 1977 — Santiago, Dominican Republic
Acquired: Signed as a free agent Feb. 21, 2018
Notable numbers: Has made 764 appearances, earning 58 wins and 53 saves over a 16-year Major League career. After pitching in Texas for eight seasons, Washington will be his eighth stop since 2010.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
A.J. Cole
Born: Jan. 5, 1992 — Winter Springs, Florida
Acquired: Drafted in the fourth round of the MLB Amateur Draft; reacquired via trade from Oakland, Jan. 16, 2013
Notable numbers: Has made eight big league starts each of the past two seasons. Owns a career 3.89 minor league ERA across eight seasons.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Sean Doolittle
Born: Sept. 26, 1986 — Rapid City, South Dakota
Acquired: Traded from Oakland with Ryan Madson, July 16, 2017
Notable numbers: Saved 21 games in 22 tries after being traded to Washington shortly before the 2017 trade deadline. Owns better than a 6-to-1 career strikeout-to-walk rate and a 0.94 WHIP.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Koda Glover
Born: Apr. 13, 1993 — Monroe, Oklahoma
Acquired: Drafted in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft
Notable numbers: Has made 42 career MLB relief appearances over the past two seasons, saving eight games in 10 chances. Never made more than 17 appearances at any minor league level before advancing.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Gio Gonzalez
Born: Sept. 19, 1985 — Hialeah, Florida
Acquired: Traded from Oakland Dec. 23, 2011
Notable numbers: Since joining the club in 2012, his 79 wins lead the franchise. The two-time All-Star has made 32 or more starts, pitched more than 175 innings and struck out 169 or more batters in seven of his last eight seasons.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Trevor Gott
Born: Aug. 26, 1992 — Lexington, Kentucky
Acquired: Traded from Los Angeles (AL) Dec. 10, 2015
Notable numbers: Has only pitched nine big league innings across 13 relief appearances in Washington the last two seasons. Has struck out nearly a batter per inning (201 K, 205.1 IP) with a 3.29 ERA in his minor league career.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Matt Grace
Born: Dec. 14, 1988 — Palos Verdes Estates, California
Acquired: Drafted in the eighth round of the 20120 MLB Amateur Draft
Notable numbers: Made a career-high 40 appearances, including one start, for Washington in 2017. Has allowed just three home runs in 70 big league innings across three seasons.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Shawn Kelley
Born: Apr. 26, 1984 — Louisville, Kentucky
Acquired: Signed as a free agent Dec. 11, 2015
Notable numbers: Struggled in 2017 after posting the two best seasons of his career the two years prior, pitching to a 2.55 ERA with 143 strikeouts in 109.1 innings pitched over 120 appearances for the Padres (2015) and Nats (2016).
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Brandon Kintzler
Born: Aug. 1, 1984 — Las Vegas, Nevada
Acquired: Traded from Minnesota July 31, 2017; re-signed Dec. 21, 2017
Notable numbers: A first-time All-Star in 2017, has allowed more than five home runs in a season just once. Has posted an ERA+ of 142 over the last two years.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Ryan Madson
Born: Aug. 20, 1980 — Long Beach, California
Acquired: Traded from Oakland with Sean Doolittle July 16, 2017
Notable numbers: Went 3-0 with a 1.37 ERA with 28 strikeouts and just three walks in 20 appearances after joining Washington in 2017. Saved 30 games for Oakland in 2016.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Tanner Roark
Born: Oct. 5, 1986 — Wilmington, Illinois
Acquired: Traded from Texas July 30, 2010
Notable numbers: Posted double digit wins for the third time in four seasons in 2017. Finished 10th in Cy Young voting in 2016 after posting 16 wins and a career-low 2.83 ERA.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Enny Romero
Born: Jan. 24, 1991 — Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Acquired: Traded from Tampa Bay Feb. 7, 2017
Notable numbers: Posted the best season of his young career in 2017, earning two saves in 53 relief appearances with a 3.56 ERA. Struck out 65 batters in 55.2 innings pitched, a rate of 10.5/9 IP.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Joe Ross*
Born: May 21, 1993 — Berkeley, California
Acquired: Traded from San Diego Dec. 14, 2014
Notable numbers: Has posted a career 3.95 ERA over parts of three big league seasons in Washington, going 17-13 in 48 appearances (45 starts). Struck out a career high 93 in 105 IP in 2016.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Max Scherzer
Born: July 27, 1984 — St. Louis, Missouri
Acquired: Signed as a free agent Jan. 21, 2015
Notable numbers: Won his second consecutive NL Cy Young Award in 2017, his third overall award. Has made five straight All-Star Games. Leads the Major Leagues in strikeouts (1,551), wins (105), and innings pitched (1,280) since 2012.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Sammy Solis
Born: Aug. 10, 1988 — Minneapolis, Minnesota
Acquired: Drafted in the second round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft
Notable numbers: Has made 85 relief appearances over the past three seasons, earning one save. Has struck out 92 batters in 88.1 Major League innings.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Stephen Strasburg
Born: July 20, 1988 — San Diego, California
Acquired: Drafted in the first round (1st overall) in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft
Notable numbers: Made his third career All-Star Team and finished third in NL Cy Young voting in 2017. Owns the third-highest strikeout rate (10.54/9 IP) in Major League history. His 3.07 ERA since breaking into the league in 2010 is sixth-lowest in MLB over that time (minimum 1,000 IP).
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images