WASHINGTON - The season is winding down but the Fredericksburg Shuttle keeps rolling along for the Nationals.
The latest promotion from the alternate site is outfielder Andrew Stevenson, 26, who made his Major League debut with Washington in 2017.
The Louisiana native has played in 127 games in the majors – with three coming earlier this season.
Stevenson, a lefty hitter, takes the roster spot of outfielder Yadiel Hernandez, 32, who made his Major League debut last week.
“We want to give Stevenson a chance to play against right-handed pitching,” manager Dave Martinez said on Zoom from Florida on Friday prior to the two games with the Marlins.
“More so than that, I wanted to keep Jake Noll around. He has been swinging the bat well. He can play multiple positions. I wanted to keep him around.”
Martinez said Stevenson will split time – mostly in right field – with right-handed-hitting Michael A. Taylor.
“He will platoon with Mike the rest of this year,” Martinez said. “I wanted to give (Stevenson) some at-bats. He deserves it; he worked really hard in Fredericksburg, kept in shape. He is a great guy, a great teammate. He has been swinging the bat well down there so wanted to give him an opportunity.”
Stevenson was drafted in 2015 in the second round by the Nationals.
The need for outfielders comes as veteran right fielder Adam Eaton went on the Injured List earlier this week and is out for the rest of the year.
Hernandez will go back to the alternate site in Virginia.
“I talked to him today. He is going to be fine,” Martinez said. “I know he can play. I told him this is not the last we will see of him.”
Martinez said there is always a chance Hernandez, who hit 33 homers last year at Triple-A Fresno, could be back by the end of the season. He was hitless in his first seven at-bats in the majors.
Stevenson has a lifetime average of .234 in 167 at-bats with just one homer. He is an above average runner and defender.