Carter Kieboom, who was drafted in the first round by the Washington team in 2016 and made his major league debut in 2019, played for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific Winter League this winter, but is now the Nationals’ general manager and Operations Director Mike Rizzo told reporters last December that he was very impressed. he.
“The fact that he went and played winter ball taught me a lot,” Rizzo explained.
“Because a lot of players don’t want to do that, given his service time. But we thought it was important to do it to get him back the at-bats that he’s missed the last few years. So I was impressed, but the report from there was that I wanted to learn how to hit a breaking ball. , or go home. So, last time I saw him, he was batting around .280, had a few home runs, and was playing third base and second base, I think. I think that’s a positive thing for him going into spring training.”
Kieboom missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but returned to the majors in 2023 and hit .209 in 27 games and 94 at-bats, hitting .199/.297/.301. , leaving nine doubles. , Recorded 12 home runs in 133 games and 508 PA games over four seasons in the majors.
Kieboom, who is highly ranked and highly rated, has made it to the major leagues, but he has struggled in the big leagues and has not yet come together.
In March of this year, Kieboom was taken off the club’s 40-man roster, cleared waivers, and was assigned to Triple-A Rochester.
“He’s been out for a while with an injury, but I think he’s still catching up a little bit,” coach Davey Martinez said. Quoted by Mark Zuckerman of MASNin explaining this decision, said:
“I know it’s disappointing for him, but he’s still in the uniform and he’s got to perform. I think he’s going to go out there, put in the work and be ready. I want him to really show us that, and if he’s called up, he’ll come here and help us win.”
Kieboom was never called up last season. That year, he hit .265/.365/.386 with 16 doubles and 17 HRs in 91 games and 359 PAs.
He became a minor league free agent this week, joining Joey Meneses, 2018 first-round pick Mason Denaburg, 2018 second-round pick Tim Cate and catcher Israel Pineda.
Washington Post reporter Andrew Golden shared the list compiled by Baseball America on X (formerly Twitter).
