WASHINGTON -- In the same press conference room where manager Dave Martinez fields questions from reporters on the latest Nationals news, a small hand rose quickly with an inquiry. Martinez had just finished explaining the different levels of Minor League Baseball involved in getting to the Majors, and there was a followup question from the crowd.

“Can we play now?” the aspiring young athlete asked enthusiastically.

On Wednesday, Martinez hosted the final edition of “Davey’s Dugout,” a monthly event held during the season in which Martinez invites families and individuals of Hispanic heritage from the Washington, D.C., area to a special game experience.

Martinez, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, began the program as a player and has carried it on as a manager. At least one Hispanic player joins each session; Israel Pineda and Ildemaro Vargas were the special speakers on Wednesday. The 2022 season finale of Davey’s Dugout coincided with the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.

“Somos familia,” Martinez said -- meaning "we are family."

Martinez, Pineda and Vargas participated in an informal Q&A session conducted in Spanish and English with senior citizens from the Vida Senior Center (in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office of Latino Affairs) and children and their families from the CentroNía educational organization. Topics ranged from ways to improve as a player to international baseball academies to the biggest sacrifices made and reaching the bigs.

“You play with a bat, you play with a ball, you play with a glove. So do these guys,” Martinez said in response to a Little Leaguer. “The difference is, the game gets a little quicker, it gets a little faster. So the guys that can keep up get to play on this level, and that’s how we know when they’re good.”

Following the Q&A, each guest of Davey’s Dugout received an autographed baseball and took photos with Martinez, Pineda and Vargas. As part of the special event, they also received complementary tickets to the series finale against the Orioles that night, the opportunity to watch batting practice on the field and $20 in Nats Bucks redeemable at Nationals Park.

As the event wrapped up about an hour before first pitch, Martinez relayed a special message to the group before he went back to the clubhouse:

“Como yo siempre digo [like I always say]: ‘Go 1-0 today.’”