Are the Nationals Finally Ready to Take the Next Step in Their Rebuild?
The MLB season has finally arrived as pitchers and catchers have started to report to their respective Spring Training locations in both Florida and Arizona. Entering the 2025 season, the Washington Nationals are one of several teams looking to take the next step in their rebuild. Since their 2019 World Series title against the Houston Astros, the Nationals have struggled to find success, having not had a winning season since 2019. The front office, led by general manager Mike Rizzo, has decided to either trade away or not re-sign the star talents that led them to their championship, including Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, Juan Soto, Anthony Rendon, and Kyle Finnegan, over their five-year rebuild. However, with the Nationals now boasting a young, talent-rich roster heading into 2025, the question among fans is whether the franchise is set to take the next step in their rebuild, hoping to become a more competitive team this season and possibly chase a Wild Card spot in the National League.
Entering this season, the Nationals' lineup boasts an exciting mix of young talent, poised to be the backbone of their future success, alongside veteran faces like Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe, who provide a strong foundation for growth. Leading the Nationals' anticipated offensive production this season are CJ Abrams, Keibert Ruiz, Luis Garcia, James Wood, and Dylan Crews. Among Washington's most consistent young talents, Abrams and Ruiz look to help lead the Nats' offense to success in 2025. The team had the 15th-best batting average, the second-fewest home runs, and the sixth-fewest runs scored last season. In 2024, Abrams enjoyed a breakout season, setting career highs in home runs with 20, as well as in RBIs and walks. Meanwhile, Ruiz, who signed an eight-year contract extension before the 2023 season, has become the franchise's next star catcher, a mainstay behind the plate, and a key partner for the Nationals' young pitching rotation.
The Nationals’ starting rotation brings much to look forward to, as several of Washington’s top pitching talents aim to take the next step in their young MLB careers. Starting pitcher Josiah Gray, who has been in D.C. for four seasons, is expected to begin the season on the 60-day IL after missing most of last year and undergoing UCL elbow surgery. As a result, the Nats will rely on other talents to shoulder the load this season, most notably 25-year-old MacKenzie Gore, who had a career-best season in 2024 with a sub-four ERA, 181 strikeouts, and the most innings pitched in his three MLB seasons. He will anchor Washington’s rotation alongside Jake Irvin and veteran Trevor Williams. The Nationals will also depend on former first-round draft picks Cade Cavalli and Jackson Rutledge to hopefully take the next steps in their careers. Both have dealt with injuries in recent years that have slowed their progress, with Cavalli recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2023 and not pitching in the majors since 2022.
As the Nationals prepare for the 2025 season, the question of whether the team is ready to take the next step in their rebuilding process remains complex. The organization has made strides in developing and acquiring young talents over recent seasons to help set themselves up for long-term success while also trying to prioritize short-term competitiveness with some veteran offensive and pitching acquisitions. However, the franchise and manager Dave Martinez still have challenges to address, particularly in the bullpen, which currently lacks the depth to become a dominant group. Additionally, some positional battles heading into Spring Training contribute to Washington being projected to hover below the .500 mark, according to PECOTA’s 2025 season predictions. Yet, with financial flexibility and a deepening farm system, the Nationals do appear to be on an upward trajectory. While 2025 may not be the breakout year the team and their fans are hoping for, it could mark a significant milestone and stepping stone toward future success in the seasons ahead.
