Nationals’ rookie duo makes MLB history Tuesday night

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Nationals’ rookie duo makes MLB history Tuesday night

Matt Larter

Wed, September 2, 2026 at 3:19 PM UTC ·

2 min read

Historic Debuts

Sep 1, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Jared Simpson (72) throws to the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images

In their respective MLB debuts, Morales and Simpson delivered performances that immediately put their names in the record books. Morales went 3-for-5 at the plate, launched a home run and finished just a triple short of hitting for the cycle. Simpson, meanwhile, tossed three scoreless innings and earned the win as Washington defeated the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves 9-5.

The Nationals called up both players before Tuesday's game as MLB rosters expanded to 28 players. Their immediate impact helped Washington secure an impressive victory against a division contender.

Morales, a 24-year-old infielder, was selected by Washington in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Miami. Since being drafted, he has established himself as one of the organization's top offensive prospects. He ranks second in the Nationals' minor league system in RBI with 220 and doubles with 79, while ranking third in hits with 385 and fourth in home runs with 47.

Promising Future

Simpson, a 26-year-old left-handed pitcher, has also enjoyed a strong minor league career. He posted a 2.30 ERA and recorded 73 strikeouts over 58.2 innings between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester this season. Since Washington selected him in the eighth round out of the University of Iowa in 2023, Simpson has recorded 137 strikeouts, the most among left-handed pitchers in the Nationals' minor league system.

The performances from Morales and Simpson came at an important point in Washington's season. With 21 games remaining, the Nationals entered Wednesday seven games behind the Braves in the division and seven games out of a National League Wild Card spot.

While Washington faces a difficult path toward the postseason, the historic debuts provided an encouraging glimpse at the organization's future. Morales' power and offensive production, combined with Simpson's ability to miss bats and limit scoring, could make the rookie duo an important part of the Nationals' plans moving forward.