Washington Nationals news & notes: Trevor Williams Season 1 in D.C.; Carter Kieboom & latest opportunity…

But first this:

Quick note: In addition to significant changes to the Nationals’ scouting and front office staff this offseason, the club is also making some changes to manager Davey Martinez’s coaching staff.

At least three of Washington’s coaches will not return to the dugout in 2024, as The Athletic’s Britt Guillory first reported.

Several writers on the Nationals’ victory confirmed the initial report and added their names to the list.

Were you surprised to see the changes to the coaching staff? Mark Zuckerman of MASN pointed out: In an article about decisions made with the coaching staff last night, Nats GM Mike Rizzo said he would discuss potential staff changes and get their thoughts as soon as he was able to speak with Martinez at the end of the regular season. He said he would discuss ownership.

“Those are usually Davey’s decisions,” Rizzo explained, “but we always get input on that from myself and the front office.”

Did Martinez want to change his staff? Was that decision made from above the head of the foreman?

More important than clubhouse or front office gossip… gossip about who will be acquired to replace the departed coach in D.C.?

Trevor Williams – Season 1:

Davey Martinez spoke openly late this season about signs that veteran starter Trevor Williams was reaching his workload limit. Martinez and his staff have been closely monitoring all starters to maintain young arms, but looking at Williams, the 31-year-old, eight-year veteran has returned to the starting role after an injury. He said there were signs of him getting tired after several seasons in which he did the majority of his work in relief.

“His velo is down a little bit. His velo is down,” Martinez explained. “When I talked to him, he said, ‘Well, it’s been a long year.’ But he understands the importance of eating innings this year for next year, so he’s pushing himself. I’m trying to catch up.

“And he’s great because the more he pushes his body this year, he knows what he has to do to get through next winter.”

Williams started a total of 30 games this year, posting a 5.55 ERA, 5.99 FIP, 53 walks (3.30 BB/9), and 111 Ks (6.92 K/9) in 144 games. ¹⁄₃ He allowed 34 home runs (2.12 HR/9) in innings pitched and posted a .300/.359/.533 line in the first year of a two-year/$13 million contract with DC.

“I’m just grateful that my body lasted all year,” Williams said. Quoted by Mark Zuckerman of MASNafter the final start of the season.

“This is a big step forward for me,” he explained.

“I don’t know how many innings I ended up pitching, but having that as a baseline for next year just helps me prepare and keep myself going for next year.”

“He wants to compete,” Martinez said of Williams’ season overall after the starting pitcher gave the club three runs. ¹⁄₃ Last starting inning of the year. “He wanted to stay in the game and I know he did, but I thought that was the limit. He really gave us everything he had, And at that particular moment, I thought — we talked, and I talked. [Pitching Coach Jim] Hickey, and he said, “Well, he gave it his all.” But he competed all year, gave us the innings we needed, and lifted us up a lot. . He gave us extra time sometimes. But I love the guy. What he did for us was, forget about the numbers, he posted every five days, which was great for him because he hadn’t done that in a while. ”

Keyboom and another chance:

“Well, we changed some things with his approach and his swing,” manager Davey Martinez told reporters a few weeks after Carter Kieboom’s recent run in the majors.

“I saw him looking a lot better and pulling his hands back a little bit.”

When asked about the adjustment, Kieboom explained, “I’m really just trying to shorten the distance to the ball.” “It’s great if things go as planned because there are a lot of moving parts. But it’s really hard to repeat that. Davey and DC [Hitting Coach Darnell Coles] We’re all just talking about it and trying to figure out what’s comfortable and what’s a little bit simpler and more repeatable. Today I spread it out a little and raised my hands a little higher. I felt like I was able to hit faster. I think our pitching improved a little bit today. ”

The 26-year-old Kieboom, a 2016 first-round pick of the Nationals, struggled in his first few seasons in the major leagues, suffering several injuries before returning to the majors for the first time since 2021 in mid-August. (Including Tommy John surgery in 2022), he then played 27 games and had 18 hits in 87 at-bats (.207/.266/.368) with 2 doubles, 4 home runs, 6 walks, and 27 Ks in 94 PA games.

“I have a lot of respect for this kid,” GM Mike Rizzo told D.C.’s Sports Junkies 106.7 fans a few weeks after Kieboom’s latest big league appearance.

“He has never given up and has worked hard to get back to where he is now. I think his swing strength and bat speed are proof that he has improved since the surgery.”

Kieboom hit one double and three home runs in his first eight games back in the majors, showing a confidence he didn’t necessarily have as he struggled in previous opportunities.

“Whenever I’m feeling good, I’m happy with myself,” Rizzo added. “Everything got better and coming into this team, he hadn’t played in the major leagues in two years, and coming in and joining a really young, really good, really energetic team. And I think that’s kind of the ripple that’s getting through to you. I think they all have a little bit of energy and a springboard to step up, and I don’t think Carter is any different.He knows a lot of these guys and has been with them for a long time, but he’s still young. [26]- year old kids don’t really get long-term opportunities in the big leagues. It’s good to see him get off to a fast start and hopefully he can get through this through the rest of the season and then come into spring training with an opportunity and perspective to be an everyday player for us. Dew. ”

Around the same time, his manager talked about Kieboom trying to establish himself as a more confident member of the big league roster, and what was different this time around.

“One is health,” Martinez said. “He’s healthy enough to play, which was good. He hasn’t played six or seven games in a row, but he’s hungry, so we’re monitoring that as well. And I really love that. The great thing about him is that he works hard to stay healthy. He’s doing all the little things behind the scenes that we’ve asked him to do to keep his body intact. But he’s aggressive. I love the fact that he’s really aggressive at the plate. He’s getting better with his footwork at third base, so what I’m most concerned about is that he’s really aggressive at the plate. It’s about whether he can recover and be ready to play the next day.

“So we’re definitely monitoring his workload right now, but he’s done really well since he’s been here, so that’s great. I’m proud of him. Because it’s never easy to sit out that long. Even when you come back and feel better, you get hurt again. I was very depressed, but he fought to get back here and we… He did his best to contribute to our victory.”

Kieboom had a double, a home run, six walks, and 21 Ks in 19 games and 63 PA from September 1st to October 1st, hitting just 10 in 57 at-bats (.175/.254/.246) and The season ended with poor results. plate.

Do you think Kieboom will start a season in the majors in 2024? Did he perform well enough in the last month and a half of the year to warrant another chance at the majors?

Where do you think Kieboom fits into the future?