One position we haven’t talked about too much this offseason is the utility spot on the field. Couch spots aren’t the sexiest thing to talk about, but they can be very important. The Nats actually have three players who have a chance to fill that sweet spot in the field. Those players are Nasim Nunez, Orelvis Martinez and Jose Tena.
Unless the Nats bring in another player like Willi Castro, these guys are going to have a camp battle. All three have pretty unique skills and would bring different things to the table. How each of these guys perform this spring will tell us a lot about who wins the job.
Right now you have to say that Nasim Nunez is the favorite to win this job. He has always been a great defender, but Nunez had an unexpected surge of power. The defensive ace exploded for four home runs in 39 at-bats in September, the first four of his MLB career.
This really came out of nowhere, because that was all he had done 9 career minor league home runs in more than 1,500 at-bats. Is this power even sustainable? If so, Nunez is a very valuable player. Last year he posted 0.8 fWAR in just 39 games. If Nunez can barely tread water as a hitter, the defense makes him very valuable.
Nunez is also a great clubhouse presence, something you expect from a bench guy. His energy is infectious and seems to have a strong impact on the other young players. The only real question is the offense, as this power could be a blip on the radar. His bat speed was significantly up in 2025, so there is reason to believe he could achieve at least some power. Nunez is a shortstop, but can play second and probably third base. He’s also gotten reps in center field before.
The next candidate has a very different profile than Nunez. Orelvis Martinez was a former top 100 prospect for the Blue Jays. However, after a steroid suspension and a rough 2025, he was let go by the club. The Nats picked him up as a minor league free agent and gave him a Spring Training invite. He ranks as the Nats’ 20th best prospect according to Pipeline.
Martinez can play second or third base, but is known for his stunning power. When he’s at his best, Martinez has elite power on his head. The 24-year-old has done just that hit 123 career minor league home runs. Martinez also destroys left-handed pitching, so he could be a platoon partner for Luis Garcia Jr. at second base.
However, there are some red flags here. After a steroid suspension, his production dropped ffalling off a cliff in 2025. He posted OPS numbers over .800 in AAA in 2023 and 2024, but that dropped to .636 in 2025. Was he just a product of PEDs?
I think the Nats are willing to find out. He’ll probably start the season at AAA, but if he has a strong spring, he could have a shot at a job. Martinez isn’t a great defender, but he can play in a variety of positions. If he can get back to what he was before 2025, this could be a really nice pickup for the Nats.
The last guy I want to discuss is someone Nats fans should know. That would be José Tena. Since Tena came over as part of the Lane Thomas trade, she has had her moments, but she hasn’t been able to put it all together.
It seems like he should be a better hitter than he is. Despite not hitting any home runs in the MLB last year, he hits the ball hard. His contact skills are also pretty solid. However, he was unable to lift the ball to the pull side in his MLB career. His career air pull percentage of 6.7% is 10% below league average.
If he can unlock that skill, I think he can be a really good hitter. The bat will have to do the lifting because his glove isn’t great. He can play second base, third base and even shortstop, but he’s not great at any of those spots. Tena had -5 outs above average last year.
Tena seems to be standing on the outside here, looking in. He would be yet another left-handed bat on a team that needs right-handers. Tena doesn’t have the defense of Nunez or the power of Martinez. There is skill here and he could be a factor at some point this season, but he will likely start at AAA this year.
If I had to guess, Nasim Nunez would be the Nats utility infielder to start 2025. He just checks most of the boxes. Nunez is a great defenseman that the Nats really need. He also showed some offensive promise down the stretch. There’s a chance the shot was just a flash in the pan, but he deserves a chance as a full-time big leaguer.
Nunez should have the job if he has a good spring, but this is a situation worth keeping an eye on. We still don’t know how the new regime values some of these players, so Spring Training will be very interesting. I’m curious how this will turn out.
#Washington #Nationals #utility #infielder