Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves: Grapefruit League GameThread - Patrick Corbin debuts with Nats...

Washington Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez was asked, after he’d watched Patrick Corbin throw his first bullpen session of the Spring in West Palm Beach, what impression he had of the left-hander who signed a 6-year/$140M free agent deal with the Nationals this winter.

“One, I know he’s a good athlete,” Martinez said. “Two, he’s very intense. I watched him throw his bullpen today, and he gets after it, but I love what I see so far, and by talking to him, he’s matured a lot, just by talking to him and his game plan, and he’s bought in from Day 1, and this is the place that he wanted to be.

“It’s a testament to this organization and he could have went elsewhere and he chose us and I’m glad he did.”

Corbin signed with the Nats coming off a 2018 campaign which saw the lefty post a 3.15 ERA, a 2.47 FIP, 48 walks (2.16 BB/9), 246 Ks (11.07 K/9), and a .217/.270/.337 line against in 200 innings pitched in his sixth season with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Asked earlier this Spring if he felt any pressure to justify the long-term, big-dollar deal he got this winter, Corbin told reporters he planned to approach this season like he had each of his previous major league campaigns.

“I’ve always just tried to have a routine,” Corbin explained, “to be able to go out there and compete every fifth day, that’s really all I’m focusing on. It’s good that that’s over with, and I’ll be here for six years, so I just need to come in every day, try to get better and help this team win ballgames.”

Corbin makes his first start in a Nationals uniform this afternoon when the Nationals travel to Lake Buena Vista, FL’s Champion Stadium to take on the Atlanta Braves in Grapefruit League action, which gets underway at 1:05 PM EST.

Unfortunately, it’s radio only for today’s game, but you can listen along via MLB.com’s At Bat app if you’re a subscriber, though it is the Atlanta feed of the game.