Catcher Matt Wieters stretches with his new team on his first day of workouts with the Nationals. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. The Nationals clubhouse, packed to the brim with spring training hopefuls, had two unoccupied lockers as of Thursday. One was in the back corner, wedged between boxes of gear belonging to Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth, right next to the overflowing locker of catcher Derek Norris. The second was on the other side of the clubhouse, with a few of the nonroster invitees and late additions such as Adam Lind, surrounded by a little more breathing room.

Friday morning, that locker had a nameplate, albeit ina slightly different font than the rest. It read Matt Wieters 32, a subtle announcement of the Nationals newest addition, and the jersey number he will wear for at least one season in D.C.

Number 32 used to belong to Koda Glover, and it seemed to fit the youngster well. Number 32 once belonged to Chad Cordero, one of the early Nationals stars and one of the steadiest closers for a franchise that has struggled to make them stick. Glover seems likely to contend for that closers spot one day. He had never been in big league camp before getting called up midway through last season. When he did, a number 32 jersey hung in his locker the clubhouse staffs choice, not his.

But Glover knew Wieters used to wear that number in Baltimore, so when he met Wieters this week, the 23-year-old kid asked the 30-year-old veteran if he wanted it.

I wanted to. Wieters is a good catcher, been around for a while, Glover said. We talked about it, and I said its all yours.

The nameplate above Glovers locker is now modified, too, the same smaller font as Wieterss, pulled together at the last minute to accommodate the switch. He will now wear Number 30, and said he does not care one bit.

Read the original:
Matt Wieters, with an assist from Koda Glover, will wear No. 32 with the Nats - Washington Post

Related Posts
February 24, 2017 at 9:45 pm by Mr HomeBuilder
Category: Second Story Additions