Washington Nationals infielder Gavin Fien made history in Thursday's spring breakout loss
Game one of the spring breakout games is wrapped up with the Washington Nationals falling against the St. Louis Cardinals, but it was not all bad. In fact, there was history made by one of the newest Nationals'.
Gavin Fien, who served as a designated hitter on Thursday night, recorded five RBIs after notching three hits and a walk across his four at bats, setting the record for the most RBIs in a game during the spring breakout games.
“I didn’t know that I had the record,” Fien told MLB.com. “That’s pretty awesome.”
"Gavin was a dawg today," Eli Willits, the top overall pick in last year's draft who drew a pair of walks and a strikeout in Thursday's loss.
His first RBI came in the top of the first inning after Eli Willits opened the game with a walk, good enough for Fien to drive him home after a liner down the left field line, giving Fien a double for the game's first run at an exit velocity of 107.1 miles per hour.
Fien then stole third base before a groundout ended the inning until he came back out for his next at bat in the second inning.
With Eli Willits drawing his second walk and Phillip Glasser already on second and Ronny Cruz on third, Fien's second double would clear the bases to put the Nationals up, 4-0.
Top of the sixth, it would be Fien once again to get the Nationals on the board after the St. Louis Cardinals broke the scoring drought on a single into left field, bringing Yeremy Cabrera across the plate and putting Washington ahead, 5-3.
Fien's walk to open the ninth would set Washington up for a three-run ninth inning in a comeback that would eventually fall short, but for the Nationals newest acquisition, it was an impressive first showing in an expanded outing.
In the end, his five RBIs would break the record of four RBIs in the Spring Breakout after Xavier Isaac of Tampa Bay, Spencer Jones of the New York Yankees and Tirso Ornelas of the San Diego Padres.
Fien was one of five players received from the Texas Rangers in exchange for MacKenzie Gore back in mid-January where his arrival added versatility to the future of the Nationals' infield alongside Eli Willits, giving the organization a pair of prospects who were selected within the first 12 picks of the 2025 MLB Draft.