The Washington Nationals announced their 2023 Opening Day roster and corresponding moves on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
- Selected the contracts of left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda, infielder Michael Chavis, right-handed pitcher Hobie Harris and right-handed pitcher Chad Kuhl
- Placed right-handed pitchers VÃctor Arano (Right Shoulder Strain), Cade Cavalli (Tommy John Surgery), Tanner Rainey (Tommy John Surgery) and Stephen Strasburg (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) on the 60-day Injured List
- Placed third baseman Carter Kieboom (Right Shoulder Impingement) and catcher Israel Pineda (Right Finger Fracture) on the 10-day Injured list (retroactive to 3/27)
Banda, 29, appeared in a career-high 32 games (one start) between Pittsburgh, Toronto and New York (AL) in 2022, striking out 30 batters in 26.2 innings. In his six-year Major League career, Banda has allowed just two home runs to left-handed batters in 186 batters faced entering 2023. He tossed scoreless relief in six of his last seven Spring Training outings (1 ER/8.1 IP).
Chavis, 27, collected a career-high 92 hits in a career-high 129 games with Pittsburgh in 2022. His 14 home runs were his most since he clubbed 18 during his rookie season in 2019 as a member of the Boston Red Sox. He appeared at third base (9 G), second base (5 G), first base (5 G) and left field (1 G) during Spring Training.
Harris, 29, allowed one earned run on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in eight Spring Training appearances (10.0 IP). He ranks ninth among Minor League relievers (min. 95.0 IP) with a .176 opponents’ batting average in 95 games across the last two seasons. He is 9-5 with 16 saves, a 2.89 ERA and 10.0 strikeouts per 9.0 innings over this stretch. He enjoyed his best professional season in 2022, leading International League pitchers (min. 50.0 IP) and ranking second in Milwaukee’s Minor League system in ERA (2.04) and opponents’ batting average (.164).
Kuhl, 30, posted a 2.87 ERA (5 ER/15.2 IP) in his last four Spring Training outings. For his career, Kuhl is 31-41 with a 4.74 ERA in 127 games (111 starts) across six Major League seasons with Colorado (2022) and Pittsburgh (2016-21). He began the 2022 season 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA (6 ER/29.2 IP) through his first five starts.