The end was emotional for Ian Desmond. Being part of the Washington Nationals before they moved from Montreal made his pending departure that much more heartfelt. His laborious season ended with tear-filled eyes. He knew this was the close of his Nationals career. Desmond, in part, assured it when turning down lucrative contract extension offers in the past.
For six seasons, the Nationals’ starting shortstop was clear. Desmond, with his powerful arm and significant error rate, his thunder at the plate and speed on the bases, was a constant.
Without him, the Nationals have two distinctly different choices at shortstop. Multi-use Danny Espinosa and his slick fielding are an option. Another is whip-thin youngster, Trea Turner. Both prefer to play shortstop, though both have worked at second base to varying degrees. Because of Desmond’s presence, Espinosa has played second base in 86 percent of his career games played. Turner played second base in 12 games last season after being called up.
Trading Yunel Escobar to the Los Angeles Angels earlier this month cleared space for Espinosa and Turner. Anthony Rendon will move back to third base after often playing second last season. The middle of the infield is open for now.
Espinosa, who again is developing an epic offseason beard, said he wants to start at shortstop. He bounced around the field last year, playing in the outfield and first base in addition to his standard infield duties, and had his playing time truncated in the second half because of Matt Williams’ decision to play others. Eventually, a minor hamstring tear ended his season.
“It was different [last year],” Espinosa said. “There were parts of it that were uncomfortable to my game, to where I wasn’t exactly comfortable playing everyday in a first base role or left field role. The infield I enjoy. Playing short, second third. I enjoy those three infield positions. Playing first is very different. It fortunately got me more at-bats, but I prefer staying up the middle.
SEE ALSO: Players insist Nationals’ clubhouse will be fine even after late-season altercation
“I do want to be at shortstop. That’s where I like to play, that’s where home is for me, that’s where I’m comfortable, grew up playing. That’s where the Nationals drafted me. I moved to second base because Ian [Desmond] was there, but I’m very confident in my ability to play shortstop and would like to get back there.”
Espinosa had 295 plate appearances in the first half of the season and 117 in the second half. He said he thought his season went “real well” until he didn’t play later in the season.
“There was days that were tough,” Espinosa said. “When you’re going on seven, eight days, nine days not playing. At a certain point, it’s frustrating at a certain time. ’I’m at nine days now, when’s the next time I’m going to get an at-bat?’ To stay mentally tuned into everything when you haven’t had an at-bat in a week-and-a-half, that’s tough, but I tried to do the best I could with my opportunities.
“But, just like everybody else, if you’re not playing every day, it’s tough to take those at-bats against an eighth- or ninth-inning guy, to keep your confidence and everything up as you’re facing plus-plus velocity every at-bat, it’s not easy. There was good days, there was bad days. The competitor in you wants you to be out there everyday.”
Espinosa said the “manager made the decision” not to play him.
“I thought I did what I needed to do in the first half or my first 300 at-bats,” Espinosa said. “I thought I should be out there a little bit more. That wasn’t the case. That’s not how I was treated, so, you move on and this is a new year and I’m ready to go again.”
Turner, 22, debuted on Aug. 21. Williams popped him onto the field on occasion. He hit .225 in 40 at-bats. Though the playing time was sporadic and slight, it served as a fresh carrot.
“Makes me want to work harder,” Turner said. “I was always told at N.C. State, freshmen work the hardest because they’re scared they’re not going to play. I kind of feel that feeling again. I want to play as long as I possibly can at the highest level.”
Turner said he was tired at the end of the season. Running 40-yard dashes during the Nationals’ final series of the season in New York, his times were slower. In batting practice, the ball did not move off his bat the way it had earlier.
Fatigue is part of the reason Turner did not play in the Arizona Fall League, though he has been in the gym. Turner said he has gained five to seven pounds. He wants his weight around 185 pounds. Last season, he was listed at 175.
Like Espinosa, he would prefer to play shortstop.
“I think it’s a little bit more fun and [I’m] more used to it,” Turner said. “If they put me at second, I’ll be very happy.”
The Nationals’ pursuit of Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, and their attempt to sign Ben Zobrist, show they may not be so sure about Espinosa and Turner as the full-time players in the middle of the infield. For now, change is the only sure thing up the middle.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.