It's a dangerous game to try to cobble together meaningful conclusions from spring training, but that won't stop us from trying. Seven games in, here's a look at what's real, and what's. not.
We finally made it. Actual baseball is being played, and even though the games don’t count for anything, it’s glorious.
We’re only a week in, though, and baseball is a game that can only really be understood in larger sample sizes. The variance is just too great, the force of fortune too strong, to draw too many conclusions after a few days.
But that won’t stop us from trying. Seven spring games in, here are three takeaways that are real, and one that is just a mirage for the Washington Nationals.
Truth: Harry Ford is still not quite ready
The slash line for the Nationals’ young catcher has been impressive so far with an OPS north of .700 in a very limited sample of eight at bats, but the plate discipline is not up to scratch yet – in those few opportunities, Ford has already struck out four times.
The good news first: Ford has never been a high strikeout guy in the minors, so it’s not necessarily going to be a long-term problem. The bad news, though, is that he may just not be ready quite yet to face major league pitching on a daily basis in a productive way.
It shouldn’t take long. Ford really is an exceptional talent, and his potential is through the roof. If anything, working through some struggles now could help him become a competitive, big-league-ready hitter sooner rather than later.
Truth: Brady House could be a real contributor
Every spring training, there’s bound to be a breakout star. It seems like each spring brings an unexpected explosion from a young player or reclamation project, bringing with it hope that he can bolster their team’s roster when the real games get underway.
This year’s fireworks have come from the bat of Brady House.
House has two home runs in six at bats, which qualifies as a bit of a shock after he cleared the wall just four times in 261 at bats for the Nationals in the 2025 season. He pointed to an “aggressive in a way, but patient” approach ahead of 2026, though struggled to put that together in his second appearance. If the 22-year-old can hold on to that pop and be a 20-plus home run guy, he could be a really important piece for Washington going forward.
Truth: The rotation is very much still in flux
It’s not a surprise in and of itself that the Nationals have thrown a lot of guys already in six games. That’s what these games are for, and you never want to risk injuries by having pitchers go too many innings before the season starts.
This conclusion is less of a reaction to what has happened so far in Florida and more of a solidifying of something that was already known. With Mackenzie Gore out the door, the Nationals have a lot of question marks when it comes to pitching.
The bright side is that Washington will have the opportunity to try out a lot of arms, young and old, to see what works. The downside is that it is likely that this is not going to be a great year when it comes to pitching as the team figures itself out.
Lie: It’s time to sound the alarm on James Wood
It’s no secret that James Wood’s 2025 campaign went downhill after the All Star break (off a cliff may honestly be a more accurate descriptor). He struggled mightily down the stretch, and the very early returns from spring ball haven’t been productive.
That doesn’t really mean anything, though. While it might be tempting to lump in an unproductive first few at bats of February with a sour end to 2025, it's six at bats. Plus, despite coming up hitless in those six, he has shown good plate discipline in drawing two walks.
James Wood is a massive talent. Regardless of his late-season swoon, he will be productive going forward. The tools are just too good for him not to regress to the mean in a positive way.
Whether or not that happens in spring training doesn’t really matter. All that matters is how Wood, and anybody else, performs when the lights are brightest and the games mean something.