Back in mid-August, Pedro Severino was pulling pins and cardboard out of a new turquoise dress shirt that appeared to have been purchased that Sunday morning. The Washington Nationals were leaving for a road trip, so the rookie had to be properly attired for the journey out of town.
He wasn’t sure what he would be doing once October came around. The Nationals‘ starting catcher, Wilson Ramos, was having an All-Star season. Jose Lobaton was a competent backup. Severino figured he would be in the major leagues as a September call-up for the second consecutive season.