Danny Espinosa will have chance to make Nationals
Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa will be given the chance to make the team as a backup infielder, though the team is looking to acquire a middle infielder as well, MLB.com reports.
Espinosa stuggled considerably at the plate last season, hitting just .158/.193/.272 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 158 at-bats. He led the National League in strikeouts in 2012 and hasn't shown any improvement at the plate since, according to one evaluator.
"He has that long upper-cut swing," the talent evaluator told MLB.com. "He has to shorten his swing in order to make more contact. He has to realize that the pitchers can tell what his weaknesses are. They don't have to throw him a strike to get him out. He doesn't make consistent contact. He has to realize that the pitchers have made an adjustment and he has to make an adjustment. He has made no adjustments since he has been in the big leagues."
Espinosa faces an uphill battle to crack the Nationals' 25-man roster.
