WASHINGTON -- José Tena arrived in the Nationals’ clubhouse from Rochester, N.Y., around 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. At 6:45, he made his Nats debut as the starting third baseman before even having the chance to meet several of his new teammates. At 9:35, he hit a walk-off single to lift the Nationals to a 5-4 win over the Angels in 10 innings at Nationals Park.
“That’s how you’re going to start it off? C’mon,” reliever Derek Law said with a laugh. “It’s super exciting. … What [better] way to bring the team together and bring somebody new in than a walk-off hit for your final at-bat of your first game?”
Washington acquired the versatile, lefty-hitting Tena from Cleveland in the Lane Thomas trade on July 29. He appeared in 10 games with Triple-A Rochester and got the call from Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy on Friday night informing him he would be joining the Nats the following day.
“José was swinging the bat really well down in Triple-A,” manager Dave Martinez said pregame. “So we’re going to give him an opportunity to come up here and play.”
Tena didn’t wait long to capitalize on that opportunity.
In his first at-bat with the Nats, Tena ran out a groundout to first base with a sprint speed of 29.2 feet per second, his quickest rate of the season and above the league average of 27 feet per second. He followed that up with a game-tying, line-drive RBI single into left field in the seventh inning.
With the Nationals in extra innings for the third game in a row, Tena led off the frame with automatic runner CJ Abrams on second base. Martinez had seen enough video to have confidence Tena could seal the "W."
“He stays on the ball really well,” Martinez said. “He’s got a real nice short swing, very handsy, but he stays in his legs really well. I told him he wasn’t going to bunt. I said, ‘I want you to drive this run in, just try to stay in the middle of the field.’ And he drove it.”
Tena sent a 95.6 mph fastball from right-hander Roansy Contreras to the bullpen wall in left-center field and brought in Abrams for the game-winning run. Despite the pressure of the situation, Tena took a poised, simplified approach.
“I was thinking if he throws me something in the zone, I was going to try to make contact,” Tena said.
Tena went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including his first career walk-off hit.
“He understands the hitting portion of the game, he really does,” said Martinez. “He doesn’t try to do too much. He lets the ball travel a little bit, and he puts the ball in play.”
Tena made his Major League debut with Cleveland on Aug. 5, 2023, and batted .200 in 21 games for the Guardians. He was surprised when he was traded to the Nationals’ organization.
In a combined 100 games with the two Triple-A affiliates this season, Tena batted .287 with 21 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 60 runs and 68 RBIs. He also drew 34 walks and stole 15 bases. Five of his seven hits with Rochester were for extra bases.
“He’s got some pop, so we definitely could use that in our lineup,” Martinez noted pregame.
Defensively, Tena played 62 games at shortstop, 18 at second base and 17 at the hot corner this season in the Minors. He won a 2021 Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove in High-A.
Tena said he will play wherever he is needed. He described starting an inning-ending double play with Luis García Jr. and Juan Yepez in the sixth as “something that you’re supposed to do.” He got his first introduction to many of the pitchers during in-game defensive action.
“I didn’t even have a chance to meet him, honestly, like I didn’t even get to say hi,” Law said. “He threw the ball to me from third, and I was like, ‘Oh hey, I’m your new teammate, hi.’”
The Nationals have a quick turnaround to an 11:35 a.m. series finale on Sunday, when Tena can continue to get familiar with his new club.
“I think his teammates know who he is now,” Martinez said. “He’s a good kid, loves to play. He’s very handsy when it comes to hitting. We’re going to get a good look at him, and hopefully he comes out tomorrow and does the same thing.”