Tradition has always been a big part of baseball’s appeal, so when the Washington Nationals return for their season opener Thursday, they’ll be back with all the familiar sights and sounds of an afternoon at the ballpark — from the crisp green field to the national anthem to the satisfying smack of a fastball hitting a catcher’s mitt.
But the changes — some small, some big — will be hard to miss, too.
The biggest difference for the 40,000-plus fans expected at Nationals Park on Thursday: No Bryce Harper in the Nationals‘ outfield.