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The Washington Nationals 2022 dream lineup

By Noah Yingling

Sep 27, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts drawing a walk against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts drawing a walk against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Lane Thomas of the Washington Nationals
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 15: Lane Thomas #28 of the Washington Nationals celebrates scoring a run during a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on September 15, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

The Washington Nationals won the World Series just two years ago in 2019, but their 2022 team will be much different. In fact, only two position players that played in more than a dozen games remain from that World Series squad (Victor Robles and Juan Soto).

For this, we will look at the Nationals as they current are constructed and look at some free agent additions within reason. The Nationals, for example, are not going to sign Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, Trevor Story, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, and Nick Castellanos. They may sign one or two, but not all six. That’s not realistic.

Lastly, we are assuming that the National League will adopt the DH in 2022 so we do not have a pitcher hitting in this dream lineup.

So let’s dive into the 2022 dream lineup for the Washington Nationals.

The center fielder Lane Thomas would lead off for the Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals acquired Lane Thomas from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Jon Lester trade at the trade deadline last season. Thomas needed a change of scenery as he had not developed like the Cardinals had hoped as he was hitting .104 with an OPS of .384 and an OPS+ of 13 in 32 games.

He did turn it around for the Nationals as he hit .270 with an OPS of .853 and an OPS+ of 133 in 45 games. He put up similar numbers for the Cardinals in a small stint in the majors in 2019 so if he has those kind of numbers for a full season, he would be more than capable of being in the leadoff spot.

Thomas is also still only 26 so he has a couple of years left until he reaches what should be his prime years.

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