The Washington Nationals ' 2023 second-round pick Yohandy Morales made his long-awaited Major League debut against the Atlanta Braves and impressed in his first two games.
Morales was a key contributor in the Nationals' 9-5 win on Tuesday. He went 3-for-5 with a solo home run that led off the third inning. He hit a double in the seventh inning and a single in the eighth inning to cap off his debut.
Morales spent the 2026 season in Triple-A before debuting in Tuesday's win. He batted .286 with an .882 OPS and 25 home runs in 104 games.
He split time at first and third base but started as the Nationals' designated hitter in Tuesday's win. He started at first base in Wednesday's 9-0 loss and finished with one of the Nationals' two hits.
CJ Abrams led off for the Nationals on Tuesday and had his first two-hit game since returning from a sprained ankle injury on August 24. Jacob Young and Harry Ford also recorded two hits on Tuesday.
James Wood returned from his left oblique strain injury on Wednesday, which sidelined him since August 3.
The Nationals would struggle in Wednesday's loss, finishing with only two hits and two walks. Brad Lord started for the Nationals and pitched 3.1 scoreless innings. Riley Cornelio and Max Kranick would combine for eight earned runs.
Yohandy Morales needed to be called up earlier.The infield has been a weak point for the Nationals after trading away Luis Garcia Jr. and Curtis Mead at the deadline. With Jose Tena and Jorbit Vivas finding starts every game, the Nationals needed change.
Morales mainly started at first base, third base and designated hitter, which are all positions where the Nationals could have used flexibility. After the rosters expanded on September 1 and Morales got his chance in the Major Leagues, he showed that he is a professional hitter.
Should the Nationals look into bringing up another infielder?Nasim Nuñez has been alternating between second base and shortstop, with CJ Abrams planning on making the move to second base.
While Nuñez has shown he is a great defender, he has also shown his offensive limitations. This leaves a great opportunity to call up the Nationals' No. 4 prospect Seaver King to give him an opportunity to see MLB at-bats over the last month of the season.
King could fit right in, filling in at shortstop and second base where he has played in the minor leagues. The 2024 first-round pick has been killing it in Triple-A, with batting splits of .303/.379/.531 and 14 home runs in 60 games.
Jared Simpson had an impressive Major League debut.Jared Simpson was called up alongside Morales as the rosters expanded. The 26-year-old left-handed reliever has risen through the Nationals' farm system in 2026.
When he got his name called to the MLB, he did not disappoint in his debut. He followed Jake Irvin's start with three perfect innings in Tuesday's win. He inherited two runners and no outs in the fifth inning and retired the side without allowing a run. He struck out three batters in his debut.
The Nationals' starting rotation is in a bad spot.Neither Nationals starting pitcher went over four innings pitched in their two-game series against the Braves.
Irvin was pulled before recording an out in the top of the fifth inning in Tuesday's win. Lord pitched 3.1 innings but was pulled after allowing the bases to be loaded in the top of the fourth. An over-hour-long rain delay may have also helped manager Blake Butera make that decision.
The low inning count makes sense for Lord, who has been a reliever throughout the 2026 season. He has had to step into the starting role after the releases of Zack Littell and Miles Mikolas.
Irvin returned from a right shoulder strain on July 30 and hasn't been what the Nationals were hoping for. In the seven starts he's made since returning, he's pitched over five innings just three times and has a 6.09 ERA.
Cade Cavalli and Andrew Alvarez are the only clear strong points in the Nationals rotation with a little under a month left in the season.
The Nationals will now look to an away series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. That series begins on Friday, September 4, at 10:10 p.m. EST.
