The Nationals made their one-year deal with former No. 2 overall draft pick official yesterday, and the club is envisioning a prominent role for the 28-year-old. Senzel himself tells reporters that manager Dave Martinez told him the expectation is that hell play third base every day in 2024 ( ). At the time he agreed to his one-year, $2MM pact with Washington, it was reasonable enough to expect that Senzel might bounce around the diamond, as hed done throughout his time in Cincinnati. The Reds began Senzels development as a third baseman but began playing him at other positions before long. was locked in as the Reds third baseman, and after he turned in a 34-homer, All-Star campaign in 2018, Senzel wound up serving as Cincinnatis primary center fielder in 2019. Overall, Senzel played all three outfield spots, second Manchester City Jersey base and third base in the big leagues during his time as a Red (plus some briefer looks at shortstop in the minors). It seems the Nationals plan to give Senzel an opportunity he never fully received in Cincinnati: everyday reps at the hot corner. Part of that lack of opportunity in Cincinnati was due to the presence of other veterans (e.g. Suarez, ). Part was due to a litany of injuries that derailed Senzels development. He mi sed time due to finger surgery (to repair a torn tendon), elbow surgery (to remove bone spurs), shoulder surgery (torn labrum), injuries to both knees (one of which required arthroscopic surgery) and an ankle sprain. If he can finally remain healthy and things go well, the Nats can control him through the 2025 season via arbitration. Word of an everyday role for Senzel isnt without impact elsewhere on Washingtons roster. The Nats have their own former top prospect whom they selected in the first round of the 2016 draft, just 24 picks after Senzel, in . The 26-year-old has appeared in parts of four big league seasons with the Nats but mustered only a .199/.297/.301 slash in 508 trips to the plate. Kieboom is now out of minor league options, so hell need to either make the Opening Day roster or else be traded or exposed to waivers before he can be sent down to the minors. That puts Kieboom in an unenviable spot. Like Senzel, hes been plagued by myriad injuries throughout his still relatively young career. Most notable is the infielders 2022 Tommy John surgery, but Kieboom has also mi sed time with a shoulder impingement and a wrist injury. That shoulder i sue wiped out much of his 2023 season. Kieboom had surely hoped that a return to health would give him the opportunity to at last cement himself in the big leagues. In order to have the best chance at doing so, hed need regular playing time that now does not appear to be in the cards. If he sticks with the Nats to open the season, hell face the tough task of trying to produce and earn a long-term spot through sporadic at-bats likely being scattered between third base, designated hitter and perhaps at second base. Its also fair to question whether Kieboom is on the verge of running out of opportunities in D.C. altogether, though. His trade value isnt anywhere near what it once was, but its still plausible that another club could take a look at him as a third base flier in a small trade or via a waiver claim. He still has four years of club control remaining. Serbia Jersey