Carter

Kieboom

Kieboom was 3-for-13 (.231) with a double and an RBI in his eight Spring Training games with the Nationals. The 26-year-old slashed .207/.266/.368 in 94 plate appearances with Washington last season and his spring performance ultimately didn’t help his case to grab the third base or a bench spot for the 2024 season.

Kieboom was 8-for-46 with no homers this month, and the start tonight was his first in five days. He hasn’t embarrassed himself in hitting .213/.276/.388 in 87 PA since his callup last month, but he also hasn’t looked like someone who needs to be penciled in for a starting job next spring. The Nationals, who signed Jeimer Candelario last winter, might again look for a stopgap at third.

Kieboom homered in three of his first six games after being recalled from the minors but is now hitting .178/.229/.200 in his last 48 plate appearances and has been on the bench most games. He’ll get another shot on Thursday with Ildemaro Vargas getting a day off. Jake Alu will also get a day off with Alex Call starting in left field.

Kieboom had a key single off the bench last night as part of the Nationals’ comeback win, but it wasn’t enough to get him the nod today. After homering in three of his first six games back in the majors, he’s hit .178/.229/.200 in his last 48 plate appearances. It’d still seem to make sense for the rebuilding Nationals to use him over Ildemaro Vargas, but Vargas is hot at the moment.

Kieboom was hitting a modest .256/.362/.411 in 44 games in Triple-A, but he’s off to a 4-for-10 start with three extra-base hits in the majors. We wouldn’t suggest betting on him at this point, but it’d sure be a great thing for the Nationals rebuild if he could put together a nice September.

Kieboom will be making his first appearance in the majors since the 2021 campaign on Tuesday night. The 25-year-old former top prospect was recalled over the weekend from Triple-A Rochester and figures to get an extended look for the Nationals over the final month of the 2023 season.

The 25-year-old infielder was brought up as the 27th man for the Little League Classic on Sunday night, but it was Jeter Downs — not Kieboom — who was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse following the game. That means he’ll get an opportunity to stick around for a while. He could become an interesting fantasy option in deeper leagues if he works his way into regular at-bats.

It’ll be the first time back in the big leagues for the 25-year-old infielder since the 2021 season. The former top prospect has hit .256/.362/.411 with six homers and 25 RBI over 196 plate appearances across three minor league levels this season.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters that Kieboom is scheduled to undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury. It’s the latest setback for the former top prospect who hasn’t appeared in the majors since the 2021 season due to injury.

Kieboom wrapped up a minor league rehab assignment earlier this month and was making up for lost time due to injury at Triple-A Rochester. The 25-year-old former top prospect has been besieged by a myriad of physical issues the last few years and it would be really unfortunate if he’s facing another extended absence. It sounds like it could be awhile before he’s ready to return to the majors.