Washington Nationals & Alcides Escobar decide to do it again in 2022…

Alcides Escobar, who turned 35 final month, was enjoying at Triple-A in Kansas Metropolis’s system this previous season when the Washington Nationals acquired the 11-year veteran and introduced him again to the majors for the primary time since 2018.

A World Series winner with the Royals again in 2015, Escobar performed at Triple-A in the Chicago White Sox’ group in ‘19, and spent the 2020 marketing campaign in Japan, earlier than returning to search for one other alternative in the majors in the U.S.

Escobar put up a .274/.311/.452 line with seven doubles and 5 residence runs in 35 video games and 133 PAs at Triple-A Omaha earlier than the Nationals acquired him in early July and gave him the shot the infielder was after.

“Very excited and pleased that the staff was in a position to give me this chance to be part of this staff,” he stated in a July third Zoom name with reporters, “… and do something I can doable to assist them win and provides them essentially the most out of me to give you the chance to do that and assist them win in any means doable.”

An harm to Trea Turner and a necessity at quick offered the chance.

“He’s [an 11]-year veteran, main league participant, performed in the postseason, performed in the World Sequence, good glove, he’s been hitting the ball very well, so we thought he’d be match,” Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez stated as soon as Escobar joined the membership.

Photograph by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs

“Not solely can he play shortstop, however he may also play completely different positions in the infield as effectively.”

The harm to Turner wasn’t a long-term one, however Escobar stated he hoped he had one thing to provide even when the Nationals didn’t want him to play day-after-day.

“I really feel like from the bench I can positively assist inspire, hopefully preserve the power up, and I can play a bit little bit of second as effectively, and take a look at to play on days when guys want some relaxation and perhaps get in that means, however greater than something assist inspire from the bench, this staff, in order that I will help them in that regard,” he defined.

The infielder had a .271/.340/.375 line in the month July, with 5 doubles, a triple, and a homer over a complete of 23 video games and 108 PAs, then Turner was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the July thirtieth commerce deadline, and Escobar performed 52 video games over the ultimate two months, posting a .296/.340/.417 line with 16 doubles, one other triple, and three extra residence runs in his first run in the majors in three years.

“I believe simply the expertise that I’ve had has led me to carry out the best way I’ve so effectively. It’s been since 2018, and simply the expertise I’ve had and the work I’ve put in like I stated earlier, has simply helped me carry out the best way I’ve,” Escobar stated early in his time in D.C.

The highway again was not a simple one.

“It positively was a bit tough,” Escobar stated, “particularly enjoying a full season in Japan. I by no means had that have, however I did assume it helped me develop, and I discovered lots from enjoying on the market. It allowed me I believe to get again to this level, it helped me get signed again with Kansas Metropolis, began at Triple-A, and I believe I confirmed sufficient to the place I used to be in a position to get the chance [from] the Nationals to come again and play on the huge league stage.”

Photograph by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs

With a few weeks left in the season, Escobar talked about what he achieved with the Nationals.

“Ever because the first second that I received to this staff, I used to be prepared to do something it took to assist the staff win,” he stated.

“Whether or not I used to be on the sector or off the sector, I used to be going to do something I might to assist the staff win.

“And I’ve been working onerous and giving essentially the most out of me to do that and to date it’s been figuring out.”

He additionally embraced the function of mentor to younger gamers like Luis García and Carter Kieboom, who performed on both facet of the veteran in the final weeks of the season, as they received an extended look as a part of the membership’s reboot of the group.

“My solely job proper now it to assist the younger guys,” Escobar stated in August. “I do know there’s a bit extra strain on them to play day-after-day, and I’m simply right here — like I stated earlier than to the press — I’m simply right here to assist out any means I can, and proper now I really feel like I’ve to assist them as a lot as doable.”

The best way issues have been going for the Nationals, who misplaced 50 of 73 video games in the second-half, it was vital that veterans like Escobar present an instance how to proceed to work as an expert whatever the end result on the finish of the video games.

“Particularly proper now with the staff dropping a lot,” he stated, “it’s one thing that — preserve working onerous and hopefully flip issues round. Baseball could be very tough, and it’s a type of stuff you simply received to preserve working and principally inspire them, preserve their heads up and inspire them to get previous this.”

Escobar’s supervisor stated late in the season that he appreciated what the veteran introduced to the membership.

“He’s such an unbelievable particular person to be round and the man is all the time cheerful, he’s all the time excited to play. He loves to play,” Martinez stated.

Photograph by Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs

Along with his versatility defensively and success on the plate, the skipper stated on the time, it would stand to purpose that Escobar could be in the dialogue for 2022.

“Will probably be a dialog we’ll positively have on the finish of the season about probably bringing him again right here,” he stated.

“However I really like — like I stated — his angle has been large, and he’ll do something, hit wherever, do no matter you ask him to do.”

Two days after they performed their ultimate recreation of the 2021 marketing campaign, the Nationals re-signed Escobar to what’s reportedly a 1-year/$1M deal, bringing him again for one more season.

“[Escobar] joined the Nationals on July third,” the membership famous in a press launch on the brand new deal, “… and from that time by means of the tip of the season, ranked [1st] on the membership in doubles (21), [and] hits (92), and [2nd] batting common with runners in scoring place (.379).”

Escobar had additionally reached base in 18-straight video games when the Nationals’ ‘21 season got here to an finish, with a .346/.393/.506 line in that stretch.