Photos by Amanda Bowen.

Player Focus: Foster Griffin was originally published in Curly W Live on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Photos by Amanda Bowen, Amanda Coll and Maddie Crooke.

PHOTOS: Best of May 2026 was originally published in Curly W Live on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Here are some of our favorites throughout the first month of the 2026 regular season.

Photos by Amanda Bowen, Amanda Coll, Maddie Crooke and Kate Hua.

PHOTOS: Best of April 2026 was originally published in Curly W Live on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Opening Day is one of the more exciting days of the year and kicks off the beginning of a new season. Here are our favorites from throughout the day.

Photos by Amanda Bowen, Amanda Coll, Maddie Crooke, Kate Hua and Jess Rapfogel.

PHOTOS: 2026 Opening Day at Nationals Park — Special Edition was originally published in Curly W Live on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Photos by Amanda Bowen and Amanda Coll.

PHOTOS: Best of Spring Training 2026 was originally published in Curly W Live on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

After announcing a new partnership with Major League Baseball for production and distribution of games in the 2026 season, the Washington Nationals today announced the lineup of broadcasters for the inaugural season of Nationals.TV, which will feature Dan Kolko as the Nationals’ play-by-play broadcaster sitting alongside analyst Kevin Frandsen and joined by host and reporter Alexa Datt. Led by this exciting trio, local Washington Nationals games will now be available to in-market fans on cable and satellite television as well as through the MLB direct-to-consumer streaming platform. For more information and to receive email alerts when additional details and subscriptions are available, visit Nationals.TV.

“I’m excited about the lineup of television broadcasters coming to Nationals.TV this season,” said Managing Principal Owner Mark D. Lerner. “It’s been a privilege to watch Dan Kolko grow throughout his time covering the organization, and I’m so proud of the work he’s put in to earn this position. I know he and Kevin will continue to have a great rapport in the booth, entertaining and educating our viewers, and I know our fans are going to love having Alexa in the mix as a host and reporter. We’re incredibly happy to welcome her back home.”

Kolko’s first season calling play-by-play will also mark his 13th season as part of the Nationals’ television broadcast team and 15th overall covering the Club. Kolko previously worked a hybrid role hosting the “Nats Xtra” pre- and postgame shows, serving as an on-field reporter and providing fill-in play-by-play and analysis. He hosted Nats Xtra alongside analyst Bo Porter, where the two covered the Nationals’ World Series Championship season in 2019. Kolko served as on-field reporter on television game broadcasts from 2014–18, and as the team’s MASNsports.com beat writer from 2012–14. Kolko has also worked as an MLB Network Radio host and MLB Network contributor, and he also calls college basketball play-by-play for FOX Sports. Kolko’s early experience working in television commercials began when he served as the “host” in Toyota’s 2013 regional commercial spots featuring Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg. Kolko also covered the Baltimore Ravens for MASN from 2008–11, writing for the network’s website and providing on-air analysis for the Mid-Atlantic Sports Report. Prior to joining MASN, Kolko worked with Comcast SportsNet in a production role. A native of Silver Spring, Md., Kolko earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Delaware.

Kevin Frandsen, a member of Washington’s 2014 National League East Division championship team, will return for his fifth season as the analyst for the Nationals. Frandsen played nine Major League seasons with the San Francisco Giants (2006–09, 2015), Los Angeles Angels (2010), Philadelphia Phillies (2012–13) and Washington Nationals (2014). A versatile defender and utility player, he saw action at second base, third base, first base, outfield, shortstop and designated hitter during his Major League career. Frandsen joined MASN and the Nationals in 2022 after four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies radio broadcast team. Since 2019, Frandsen has also hosted shows on MLB Network Radio, and from 2016 to 2019, worked on AM radio in the San Francisco Bay area. He co-hosted “KNBR Tonight” on KNBR 680 AM and, prior to that, spent one year as co-host for KNBR 1050 AM’s morning drive show, “The Audible.” Frandsen is a native of San Jose, Calif. and was selected in the 12th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of San Jose State University where he set the program’s all-time record for career hits (246).

A Derwood, Md., native, veteran sports broadcaster Alexa Datt will return to the Washington, D.C., area for her first season with the Nationals. Datt most recently served as a host for FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, where she covered the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues. While in St. Louis, Datt spent one season calling play-by-play for the Saint Louis University men’s baseball team, and she made history in early 2025 as the first female broadcaster to call play-by-play for the Cardinals during Spring Training. Datt spent time with MLB Network and NHL Network where she hosted several programs, including “The Rundown,” “Quick Pitch,” “The Cycle,” and “On The Fly.” She also led the MLB.com daily show “12:25 Live with Alexa” as well as “The Morning Run” for Chicago-based digital sports network 120 Sports. Datt’s career has also included internships at “America’s Most Wanted” and Comcast SportsNet in Bethesda, Md. She worked as an associate producer and on-air personality at SportsNet New York, served as the in-stadium host and reporter for the New York Mets, and worked as a sideline reporter for SNY’s coverage of Atlantic-10 college basketball. Datt co-hosted “Datt’s What She Said with Dani,” a podcast that interviewed baseball’s biggest stars and discussed amusing and heartwarming stories from on and off the diamond. An alumnus of the University of Maryland and Magruder High School, Datt will make her debut during Spring Training coverage. The Spring Training broadcast schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Nationals are the seventh team whose local games will be produced and distributed by MLB, joining the Diamondbacks, Guardians, Mariners, Padres, Rockies and Twins. In recent seasons, local games produced by MLB have featured special broadcast elements, increased access and technical innovation, including enhancements like Wire Cam and shallow depth RF cameras, which will be part of the new Nationals.TV viewing experience this season. MLB has won Sports Emmy Awards for its local game production of the Padres and Twins. In addition, MLB Network has won multiple national Sports Emmy Awards for its game production since 2009. For more information, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit Nationals.TV.

Nationals Announce TV Broadcasters for 2026 Season was originally published in Curly W Live on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Washington Nationals claimed shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the New York Mets and designated left-handed pitcher Konnor Pilkington for assignment on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni made the announcement.

Cheng, 24, spent five professional seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates system after signing with them on July 2, 2019. He hit .251 with a .350 on-base percentage and a .385 slugging percentage and recorded 88 doubles, 21 triples, 35 home runs, 230 RBI, 112 stolen bases and 296 runs scored in 507 career Minor League games in the Pirates organization. He made his Major League debut in 2025, appearing in three games during the month of April. Cheng was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays on Jan. 7 and by the New York Mets on Jan. 16.

A native of Pingtung County, Taiwan, Cheng was considered the “Best Defensive Infielder” and had the “Best Strike Zone Discipline” in Pittsburgh’s system entering the 2025 season, according to Baseball America. He hit .207 with 12 doubles, three triples, one homer, 36 RBI, 48 walks, 20 stolen bases and 36 runs scored in 110 games between Triple-A Indianapolis and Single-A Bradenton last season.

Nationals claim shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng was originally published in Curly W Live on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Washington Nationals acquired shortstop Gavin Fien, right-handed pitcher Alejandro Rosario, shortstop Devin Fitz-Gerald, outfielder Yeremy Cabrera and first baseman Abimelec Ortiz in exchange for left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni made the announcement.

Fien, 18, was the 12th overall selection by the Rangers in the first round of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft out of Great Oak High School in Temecula, Calif. Texas’ №2 prospect per Baseball America and №3 per MLBPipeline.com, he hit .220 with three doubles, a triple, seven RBI, a stolen base, three walks and four runs scored in 10 games for Single-A Hickory in his first taste of professional baseball in 2025.

Fien (pronounced ‘FEEN’) hit .358 with six doubles, one triple, five home runs, 16 RBI, eight stolen bases, 24 runs scored and more walks (11) than strikeouts (9) in 30 games as a high school senior in 2025. In four varsity seasons, he slashed .378/.451/.633/1.084 with four triples, 29 doubles, and 65 RBI in 91 games

A member of the U18 USA National Team, Fien slashed .400/.429/.680 with 11 RBI during the 2024 World Cup qualifier in Panama and helped the Americans win the gold medal. He was also named the Most Valuable Player of the 2024 MLB High School All-Star Game in San Diego where he shared the field with new teammates Eli Willits, Landon Harmon and Miguel Sime Jr.

Rosario, 23, was Texas’ №13 prospect, per Baseball America and №6 per MLBPipeline.com. In his only professional season in 2024, he struck out 129 in 88.1 innings, while issuing just 13 walks between Single-A Down East and High-A Hickory. For his efforts, he vaulted himself onto Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list, landing at №49 before the 2025 season. Rosario was selected in the fifth-round pick out of the University of Miami in 2023.

Fitz-Gerald, 20, was Texas’ №8 prospect according to Baseball America and №12 according to MLBPipeline.com. He hit .302 with seven doubles, six homers, 20 RBI, 28 walks, eight stolen bases, and 33 runs scored in 41 games between the Arizona Complex League and Single-A Hickory in his first professional season in 2025. A switch hitter, Fitz-Gerald hit .274 with all six home runs from the left side of the plate and hit .455 (10-for-22) as a righty. Defensively, He converted all 78 chances at shortstop and third base last season.

A fifth-round selection out of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in 2024, Fitz-Gerald was the 50th-ranked overall high school prospect and 12th-ranked shortstop in the class according to Perfect Game.

Cabrera, 20, was the Rangers №14 prospect according to Baseball America and №16 according to MLBPIpeline.com. He ranked in the top 10 among Texas farmhands in stolen bases (2nd, 43), on-base percentage (7th, .364), runs scored (8th, 66) and average (10th, .256) in 2025. In all, Cabrera hit .256 with 12 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 52 RBI, 52 walks, 43 stolen bases and 66 runs scored in 102 games for Single-A Hickory last season.

A native of Bani, Dominican Republic, Cabrera led the Arizona Complex League in home runs (9) during the 2024 season. He finished with a .301 average, 11 doubles, three triples and 39 RBI in 49 games.

Ortiz, 23, is the Rangers’ №18 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com. He is second in all of Minor League Baseball with 258 RBI and tied for fourth in MiLB with 77 home runs since the beginning of the 2023 season. He has hit double-digit home runs in each of his five professional seasons, including 34 in 2023 on his way to being named South Atlantic League Most Valuable Player.

A native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Ortiz led all Rangers farmhands in home runs (25), RBI (89), extra-base hits (53) and runs scored (85) last season. In all, he hit .257 with 25 doubles, three triples, 25 home runs, 89 RBI, 65 walks, four stolen bases and 85 runs scored in 130 games between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock in 2025.

Nationals acquire five players in exchange for MacKenzie Gore was originally published in Curly W Live on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Washington Nationals claimed utility player Mickey Gasper off waivers from the Minnesota Twins and designated right-handed pitcher Andry Lara for assignment on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni made the announcement.

Gasper, 30, hit .285 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, 26 RBI, 25 walks, two stolen bases and 32 runs scored in 47 games for Triple-A St. Paul in 2025. He recorded a .531 slugging percentage and a .916 OPS last year, his first season in the Twins system. He appeared at catcher (17 G), designated hitter (13 G), second base (8 G), first base (6 G) and in left field (3 G). Gasper has hit .276 with a .391 on-base percentage and a .459 slugging percentage in 454 games across seven professional seasons.

Gasper made his first career Opening Day roster and enjoyed four Major League stints with the Twins in 2025. He appeared in 45 games, hitting .158 with a double, two home runs, 11 RBI, 10 walks, two stolen bases and 15 runs scored. He made his Major League debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2024, appearing in 13 games.

A 27th-round pick by the New York Yankees in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft, Gasper was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the Minor League phase of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft and was acquired by Minnesota via trade on Dec. 24, 2024.

Nationals claim utility player Mickey Gasper was originally published in Curly W Live on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with 15 international free agents on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni and Director of International Operations Victor Rodriguez made the announcement.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

OF Samil Serrano — *№16 prospect in the 2026 International Class, per Baseball America / №26 international prospect, per MLBPipeline.com

OF Isaias Suarez — *№18 prospect in the 2026 International Class, per Baseball America / №39 international prospect, per MLBPipeline.com

OF Angel Ramirez — *№52 prospect in the 2026 International Class, per Baseball America

OF Juan Duran — *№53 prospect in the 2026 International Class, per Baseball America

OF Jawel Garcia

SS Euris Acosta

3B Rayniel Lache

C Carlos Mueses

PANAMA

OF Brad Rodriguez

VENEZUELA

RHP Santiago Moreno

RHP Christopher Navas

RHP Josue Rondon

RHP Aldemaro Sevilla

C Pedro Guerra

C Luis Tarifa

Nationals agree to terms with 15 international free agents was originally published in Curly W Live on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.