The organization hopes its newest prospects will build chemistry and good habits as they begin their paths to the majors.
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The Washington Nationals’ newest players woke up to their alarms in West Palm Beach, Florida, at 7 a.m. sharp. They had a bus to catch at 7:45.
But this bus wasn’t taking them to school, as they were accustomed. They are professional baseball players now, headed from their hotel rooms to their morning workout at the Nationals’ complex for draft camp.
After being drafted and signed by the organization in mid-July, the players reported to West Palm Beach for the camp, the first of its kind under the new front office. They then got their first taste of pro baseball, going through a rigorous schedule of meetings, training and live batting practices.
And they played mini-golf. Lots and lots of mini-golf.
“It gets pretty competitive,” said Chase Brunson, the team’s second-round pick out of TCU. “It’s all pretty equal, I’d say, so that’s what makes it fun.”
That fun, though, came at the end of their training day. First they had work to do.
After arriving at the facility, the players began their day with a hearty breakfast. Then they were off to meetings, both individual and group, followed by work in the batting cages. Here, most of the hitters got their first taste of the Trajekt, a tool that simulates the velocity, spin rate and release height of major league pitchers. Even those who went to big-name college programs didn’t have access to that level of technology.
They also learned the expectations and started to develop the routines that will help them handle the demands of being a professional. Baseball is now their job and main responsibility.
The Nationals have made an effort to replicate their philosophy and setup at each level, starting in West Palm Beach. The sooner the prospects can establish a routine that works for them, the easier it’ll be when they move up.
“The big thing they preach is everything they do, even at the big league level, it just all translates down, no matter what level you’re at,” Brunson said. “You’re doing the same stuff, so nothing changes from each level.”
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At the end of the first week, players met with coaches and went through their data. For a player such as Luke Williams, an 18-year-old infielder selected in the third round, the main directive is to gain weight and get stronger.
“It was super cool to go through that first week, and then they sit me down and pull up all the numbers,” Williams said. “So it’s like, ‘Here’s what it actually is with the data,’ and not just, ‘We think you should do this.’”
The first week was about learning. The subsequent weeks have been about implementing the lessons into their play. The players have done more simulated games and live batting practices, and even more work off the Trajekt.
Their days have typically ended around noon, leaving them with lots of time to fill. Some days, they went to the beach or shopping. But most nights, they ended up at PopStroke, a mini-golf course just a short skip away from their hotel. The membership only cost $25 a month and came with a 25 percent discount off food — a particular boon for those at the end of the draft class who didn’t get large signing bonuses.
Matthew Dallas, a 12th-round pick out of Wake Forest, has developed a reputation for being the best mini-golfer.
“He’s just really clutch,“ said Chris Hacopian, the 11th overall selection out of Texas A&M. ”He’s been a stud.”
While the Nationals may not have expected their draftees to become obsessed with mini-golf, bonding as a group was one reason they wanted to hold a draft camp. These players will probably move up through the ranks together, and being bonded from the start will only benefit the organization when they eventually get to the majors.
It’s part of what made the Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Manager Blake Butera’s former team, successful. Now, the Nationals are hoping it’ll pay off for them, too.
“When you get to the major leagues and have some familiar faces around you in the clubhouse and dugout, I think it goes a long way and provides a sense of comfort,” Butera said.
