WASHINGTON – The minor league season will begin in early May, and that’s good news for several top Nationals’ prospects who missed out in 2020 when the minors were called off due to the pandemic.
But even before games begin in a few weeks, infielders Drew Mendoza and Jackson Cluff, catcher Israel Pineda, and pitchers Jackson Rutledge and Cade Cavalli are building off March exposure as they got playing time with the major league club in Spring Training.
And while they didn’t get to face other teams in 2020, all five of the players were able to either be part of the alternate site in Fredericksburg with the 60-player pool or take part in Instructional League in West Palm Beach last fall – or both.