This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
DETROIT – More than half of the players on the Nationals’ roster spent time this season in Triple-A Rochester. Likewise, more than half of the Red Wings’ roster suited up for the Nats at some point this year. A common thread of this cohesion is the Red Wings’ coaching staff, led by manager Matthew LeCroy, in his sixth season at the helm.
So when the Red Wings won the second half of the season and clinched their first playoff berth since 2013, the Major League clubhouse was elated for them. The videos and photos of LeCroy soaked in celebratory champagne brought smiles to the Nationals’ faces.
Before the Nationals’ win in Detroit on Tuesday, many of the players were hoping to be able to catch the end of the Red Wings’ Game 1 against the Memphis Redbirds. Rochester won, 4-3, and after dropping Game 2, 15-4, remains one win away from advancing to the Triple-A National Championship.
The Nationals shared the impact that LeCroy has made on them:
Manager Blake Butera
“He's as much a part of [the Nationals] as anybody is. We wouldn't be having some of the success that we had this year if it wasn't for the job that he's done.”
LHP Jackson Kent: 13 starts with Rochester this season/total
“He's one of the best ever. He was great. He was just getting me through things. We had conversations, and he told me to keep getting better and keep learning.”
3B: Brady House: 50 games with Rochester this season; 169 total (2024-26)
“The last three years that I've been with [him], I think we understand each other well, in my opinion. We're both from the south, too, so I feel like we have a lot of things in common. He's the best. He's a great mentor. He's been everywhere and played a long time and coached a long time. Learning from him has been great.”
1B/3B: Yohandy Morales: 104 games with Rochester this season; 199 total (2025-26)
“I was there almost the whole year, so it was a long, long grind. We fell short [of the title] in the first half, but nobody gave up. We obviously all had a goal, and everybody worked for it.”
LHP Erik Tolman: 32 appearances with Rochester this season/total
“He meant a lot. He made coming to the field fun every day. He always loved to joke around with the players. However, he knows how to keep it professional and not [have us] see him as a bro, but see him as a coach because you’ve got to have that middle ground with that.”
OF Dylan Crews: 41 games with Rochester this season; 103 total (2024-26)
“[The Red Wings] show up every day ready to work. It feels like they're going out there trying to prove something, and it's been awesome to watch. Being a part of it for a month-and-a-half [this season], it showed every day. Skipper over there, he sets the standard. He's awesome. Hopefully, they go forward.”
1B/DH Abimelec Ortiz: 85 games with Rochester this season/total
“Matt LeCroy is electric. Electric. The same for [defensive coach] Mario Lisson, too. They have good coaches there. They have good relationships with the players, and the clubhouse is good.”