WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Zimmerman was sent home with an illness on Wednesday morning by manager Dave Martinez, after becoming the latest player to come down with the bug that is spreading around the Nationals' clubhouse.
Yan Gomes was sent home for a few days last week, and Spencer Kieboom was sent home by Martinez the day before. Zimmerman was initially scheduled to be in the starting lineup for Wednesday afternoon’s 14-8 win against the Astros, but the 34-year-old called Martinez on Tuesday night to tell him he was not feeling much better. The veteran first baseman reported to camp in the morning to see the team doctor before he was sent home.
“I’m not going to take [any] chances with him to put him out there just for one or two at-bats,” Martinez said. “We’re going to re-evaluate tomorrow and see where’s he at.”
The sickness throws a wrench into Martinez’s plans to play Zimmerman more frequently this spring, a debate between the Nats and the veteran first baseman the past two springs.
Martinez had planned for Zimmerman to make his Grapefruit League debut during a game “in February” he said earlier this week while outlining a plan they had created to get the veteran enough playing time. They are unlikely to reach that goal after Wednesday’s setback, however, considering the Nats play on the road in Fort Myers, Fla., on Thursday -- a long road trip a veteran like Zimmerman will not make.
A year ago, Zimmerman played in just one Grapefruit League game, preferring to get most of his work done in Minor League games or on the back fields. While Martinez went along with the plan last year, he has acknowledged he would like to see Zimmerman on the field more often this spring, especially to make sure he gets his reps on defense.
“He’s doing good, all his workouts are good,” Martinez said. “He’s been running the bases, actually been running the bases on his own quite a bit, so he looks good. He really does. Now we just got to get him feeling healthy and get him in there.”
Hellickson makes spring debut
Jeremy Hellickson was a late addition to Nationals camp a year ago, signing a Minor League deal with a Major League invite with about two weeks remaining before the start of the regular season. So in addition to being happy he got a Major League deal this winter, Hellickson was also glad to have a full Spring Training to help get prepared for the season.
“Definitely helps,” Hellickson said. “I got a good Spring Training in last year. I was on my own, but I was throwing to [Mike] Moustakas and some other guys, so I wasn't just throwing bullpens. I was ready, but you can't simulate game speed, game situation. It is nice to hopefully get five or six more starts and actually be really ready for the season this year."
In his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday, Hellickson threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and a walk in the Nationals' 14-8 win against the Astros. He threw 31 pitches and worked on developing a quick pitch in what was his first tuneup of the spring.
“Other than that, it was just like every other season, try to get ahead, get some quick outs,” Hellickson said. “Just pitching like it's a real game, throwing everything. The main thing was get strike one and just pound the zone."
Worth noting
• The Nats tried to stretch Joe Ross out on Wednesday, letting him throw 53 pitches in what was just his second outing of the spring. He labored through 1 2/3 innings after his outing was extended by an error from Adrian Sanchez. Ross was charged with three hits, a walk and two runs (one earned). Washington is expecting Ross to make a start at some point in the spring, though the starters are just beginning to making their spring debuts and Martinez has said the team wants to monitor Ross' innings this season.
“He’s been throwing quite a bit,” Martinez said. “I’ve told Lilly [pitching coach Derek Lilliquist] he’s good for 50 pitches today, so just let him go out there. He should have got out of the inning, but he threw well.”
• Trea Turner batted leadoff with Adam Eaton hitting second Wednesday, a flip from Martinez's usual batting order. Martinez knows the top four hitters in his lineup, but he hasn’t decided how he wants to line them up yet. With Turner at the top, Martinez is likely to follow with Eaton, Rendon and Soto to alternate the lefties and righties. But if he keeps Eaton hitting first like he did for most of last season, then Turner, Soto, Rendon will likely follow in that order. But Martinez might change his mind.
“I’m going to toy around with different things,” Martinez said. “Especially the first four guys… I like the fact that Trea can get on base, he can steal and not have to worry about hitting in front of Rendon early. And Adam who can hit the hole with the best of them over there -- for me it’s about scoring runs early in the game. Those two guys can make it happen.”
Eaton recorded an RBI double and a sac fly, while Turner went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.
Up next
A few days after Patrick Corbin made the unusual decision to take the long bus ride to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Max Scherzer will make the road trip to Fort Myers for the Nationals' matchup against the Red Sox on Thursday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. ET. This will be Scherzer's second start of the spring after he gave up one run on three hits and struck out three on Saturday in the opening game of the Grapefruit League against the Astros.