The Washington Nationals opened spring training on fire, becoming the final team in the Grapefruit League to remain unbeaten, until coming back down to earth with just one win over their last five games. Washington will return to action against the Houston Astros on Monday afternoon in their final game ahead of a mini-break this week, but the team has also announced its first round of re-assignments to minor league camp during spring training including four pitchers.

RHP Andry Lara

In a pair of appearances this spring, Lara has allowed three hits and one run while tossing both one walk and one strikeout in just three innings. Lara also allowed one hit in each appearance this spring after last appearing against the Phillies back on Feb. 26. This marks the official announcement for Lara, who was facing an uphill battle ahead of spring. Lara spent the 2025 season with Triple-A Rochester before being promoted to the Nationals’ 40-man roster in April for a hopeful MLB debut that never came. The team announced Lara was DFA’d back on Jan. 20 after the acquisition of Mickey Gasper before clearing waivers and being sent outright to Rochester.

Advertisement

C Max Romero

The lone non-pitcher among the batch of cuts, Romero becomes the first casualty in the catcher race. Romero is one of five players to hit at least one home run during spring training, proving to be his lone hit after also striking out twice in his three at bats over the lat week. Romero spent time in Double-A with Harrisburg back in 2025.

RHP Jarlin Susana

One of two expected decisions, the move to re-assign Susana comes after he was not expected to be available for the team this spring. Susana continues to rehab from right lateral surgery as he threw 15 pitches from 60 feet away back on Feb. 20, while the expectation is he could return to full strength at some point this summer.

RHP Travis Sykora

Similar to Susana, the move to re-assign Sykora is no surprise after the non-roster spring training invite is also battling back from major surgery after undergoing right UCL reconstruction with the expectation he returns in 2027, a lengthier timeline than Susana’s recovery. Sykora also reportedly began his pitching program back in mid-February while both he and Susana were placed on the 60-day injured list ahead of spring training.

Advertisement

RHP Eddy Yean

That will be it for Yean after just one appearance this spring, who allowed both one hit and one run in one inning pitched against the St. Louis Cardinals back on Feb. 21, along with tossing both one strikeout and walk. This marks Yean’s second stint with the organization after inking a minor league contract in mid-November 2025 after initially signing with the Nationals as an international amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic back in July 2017.