Washington Nationals Alex Call Deserves More Love

Once a long shot to make the team out of spring training, Alex Call has been one of the most reliable performers for the Nats all year

It’s been a year filled with inconsistency for the Washington Nationals. Between injuries, underperformance, or massive slumps, it has been hard for the Nats to find anyone they can count on to go out on the diamond every night and give 100%. One name the Nats have been able to count on to be a positive influence on a ballgame every night, however, is outfielder Alex Call.

Call is in his 4th season in Washington, though he won’t be a free agent until after the 2029 season, thanks to the up-and-down nature of his role on the roster as a backup outfielder keeping him from accruing too much service time. He’s played in the 2nd most games of his career in 2025, 72 games, thanks in part to injuries to fellow outfielders Jacob Young and Dylan Crews at times during the year. In those 72 games, Call has been one of the most consistent producers on the whole club, posting the 3rd highest fWAR with 0.9, trailing only James Wood and CJ Abrams.

Call hasn’t just been good by Nationals standards in 2025, he’s been good period. His 117 wRC+, among outfielders with at least 230 plate appearances, ranks 33rd, tied with household names such as Jackson Chourio, Taylor Ward, and Wilyer Abreu. He’s done this while also playing anywhere the Nats ask him to, as he’s spent time at all 3 outfield spots as well as some time at DH. One of the most impressive parts of Call’s success is his great plate approach. On a team like the Nats that struggles with working counts and drawing walks, Call shines, posting the 25th best BB% (11.0%) and 8th best BB/K ratio (0.72) among outfielders.

In the batter’s box isn’t the only place Call has been providing value for the Nats in 2025. In the field, he’s performed admirably despite being bounced around, posting +3 OAA (Outs Above Average) in right field, where he’s spent the most time this season. Not only does Call have impressive range, ranking in the 74th percentile among outfielders, he also has a strong arm, with an average velocity of 88.8 MPH, ranking in the 82nd percentile.

The path to consistent playing time in the future for Alex Call is unclear, both for the rest of 2025 and future seasons. With Dylan Crews set to return to big league action soon, the Nats will likely let the young guns lead the way for the remainder of the year to see what they’ve got. Heading into 2026 and beyond, Call’s competition for the 4th outfield spot will likely tighten as well, as Jacob Young could get pushed out of a starting role.

There is even a chance Call is traded at the trade deadline in a few days, marking the end of his time in a Washington Nationals uniform. Whatever happens, I believe it is important we give Alex Call his flowers for being a consistent and steady ballplayer in one of the rockiest seasons in recent Nationals history.