Washington Nationals Sign Former 1st-Round Pick Shortstop

Off the free agent market.

The Washington Nationals have signed Richie Martin to a minor league contract.

Martin was released by the Cincinnati Reds in March after failing to make their Opening Day roster.

#Nationals have signed INF Richie Martin to a minor league contract.

— MiLB-Transactions (@tombaseball29) April 16, 2023

The former first-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in the 2015 MLB Draft is a solid defensive player, but he has struggled offensively in the majors, posting a .212/.261/.311 triple-slash line with seven home runs, 34 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, and 42 runs scored across 170 games.

Despite his struggles, the 28-year-old has fared better in the minors, as he recorded a decent .250 batting average with two home runs, 25 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases over 292 at-bats last season.

He will now bring valuable middle infield experience to the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings, where he will aim to impress and earn a potential call-up to the major league team.

It will be interesting to see how Martin progresses with the Nationals and whether he can contribute to their future success. Nevertheless, his signing represents a solid depth move for the organization and provides Martin with a fresh start and another opportunity to make his mark in the major leagues. Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports