Jake

Alu

Alu got into 51games for the Nationals during the 2023 season as a super utility specialist, batting .226 (36-for-159) with two homers and five steals. The 27-year-old, who was a 24th-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, spent all of last year at the Triple-A level, posting a .630 OPS with three homers and eight steals in 60 games.

Alu didn’t make an appearance for the Nationals this season and now heads to waivers. The 27-year-old slashed .226/.282/.289 with two homers and 16 RBI in his 175 plate appearances with the Nats last season.

With Adon has been in the Nationals’ rotation before, it’s Herz and Henry that are the two big names here. Herz came over from the Cubs in the Jeimer Candelario trade and was tremendous for the Nationals in Double-A and then also in the AFL. Meanwhile, Henry is a former first-round pick who is coming off of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery. Both have looked good this spring and have a chance to crack the Nationals’ rotation over the summer.

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.

Alu will make his second straight start at third base with Ildemaro Vargas sliding to the bench and Luis Garcia moving to second base. Alu is hitting just .220/.265/.252 in 38 games with one home run, 11 RBI, and four steals. Still, with the Nationals not contending, it makes sense to play Alu over the 32-year-old Vargas.

The 23-year-old had been sent to the minors in early August after hitting .657 OPS with just six homers and eight steals across 406 plate appearances in 99 games. He hasn’t fared too much better in Triple-A, hitting .268/.315/.381 with one home run, 13 RBI, and two steals in 25 games. The Nationals have been starting Jake Alu at second base since García’s demotion. Alu is hitting .261 in 29 games in the second half of the season with one home run, 11 RBI, and three steals, so it’s no lock García were to come back to a starting job.

He’ll take the place of Jeimer Candelario on the active roster after the hard-hitting third baseman was dealt to the Cubs on Monday. Alu, 26, has gone 3-for-14 (.267) with no RBI in his limited action with the Nationals this season.

The two teams get a 27th man for the regularly scheduled game after completing their suspended game this afternoon. Alu is not in the starting lineup for the game tonight.

Alu briefly returned to the majors this week with Joey Meneses on paternity leave, but he’ll head back down to the minors for now. The 26-year-old should get another chance before long.

Alu is back in the majors for Wednesday’s game against the Marlins with slugger Joey Meneses heading out on paternity leave. The 26-year-old prospect got into three games earlier this month before being shipped back to the minors earlier this week.