Washington Nationals upgrade technology ahead of spring training

President of baseball operations Paul Toboni was expected to make changes to the Washington Nationals after arriving in November 2025 and with spring training inching closer, it appears the organization is making a notable change - and it has nothing to do with adjusting the 40-man roster.

The Washington Post reported this week that the Washington Nationals are expected to have at least two Trajekt machines this season, one in Washington and one in West Palm Beach. The Nationals were one of only a handful of teams to not previously utilize them in a move that frustrated the fanbase, but with Toboni and assistant general manager Devin Pearson expected to prioritize upgraded technology and investment in the organization, that will change ahead of year one of the Blake Butera era.

The Nationals previously used other systems like an Oculus virtual reality headset allowing players to simulate various pitches from the various pitchers they'll face, including the ones they'll face hours ahead of opening pitch, but the technology void was always clear.

The absence of a Trajekt Arc, a pitching machine that displays the video of any pitcher's windup then pitch based on arm angle compared to data available, became a storyline for the Nationals last season. The machine's ability to essentially mimic a pitcher's precise delivery in preparation for opposing pitchers made it mainstream through baseball as the MLB allowed Trajekt to be utilized in-game in 2024.

That's the same year that 19 teams across baseball already began utilizing the Trajekt Arc and by 2025, that number grew to 25, per The Washington Post. But not Washington.

While the cost of a system was estimated to be roughly $500,000 last season, the popularity among players was always clear with players arriving from other organizations noting its impact even just prior to an at-bat with the Diamondbacks reportedly employing it before they pinch hit.

The Nationals will look to implement the updated technology beginning next week with the creation of a supplemental training camp set to begin on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at the team's facility in West Palm Beach. The team is expected to have roughly 60 minor leaguers in attendance along with several young yet unproven stars in shortstop Eli Willits, the top overall selection in the 2025 MLB Draft, along with right handed pitcher Miguel Sime Jr., infielder Coy James, infielder Luke Dickerson and recent international signing Angel Feliz among others.

While ESPN remains bearish on the Nationals' chances of eclipsing last season's win total, the updated technology serves as a key development for an organization that has made clear through its words of updating the support around its young, developing roster. Devin Pearson, another former Red Sox executive who followed Toboni and serves as the Nationals' assistant general manager and who oversees player development, noted last month that the Nationals have "bought a ton and spent a ton of money" with execution the net phase of the development plan, but how immediately it translates to success is the next step.

For now, new management is at least showing the investment in winning.