Welcome to the offseason edition of the Nationals Beat newsletter. This is your stop for the latest on and off the field, from news to exclusive player interviews and insights, brought to you by MLB.com club reporter Jessica Camerato. 

The long month of January is over, and February is here. That means Spring Training is just around the corner and -- not long before we know it -- the 2024 regular season will be, too.  

In keeping with the Mark Your Calendars section of the Nationals Beat Newsletter, here is a list of dates to note as we soon swap winter gloves for baseball gloves.  

* denotes special ticket events 

February 

Feb. 14: Pitchers and catchers first workout 
Feb. 20: First full squad workout 
Feb. 24: Spring Training opener vs. Astros 

March 

March 15: Spring Breakout at Mets 
March 26: On Deck: Nationals Futures Exhibition at Nationals Park 
March 28: Season opener at Reds 

April  

April 1: Home opener vs. Pirates; reversible bucket hat giveaway (first 20,000 fans) 
April 5: Branch Appreciation Day, National Guard; Pups in the Park* 
April 6: Penn State University Day* 
April 7: Howard University Day;* Girl Scout Day*  
April 19-21: 2019 World Champions five year anniversary weekend 
      April 19: Friday Night Fireworks, 2019 world champion music 
      April 20: 2019 World Series replica ring giveaway (first 20,000 fans) 
      April 21: Kids 2019 World Champions viewing toy (first 8,000 fans, ages 12 and under); Kids opening day; Screech's birthday 
April 20: West Virginia University Day* 
April 21: Youth Baseball and Softball Day* 
April 23: Japanese Heritage Day;* Pups in the Park* 
April 24: Patriotic Series, Military Appreciation Day 

May 

May 3-5: Star Wars Weekend 
      May 3: Friday Night Fireworks, Star Wars themed music 
      May 4: X-Wing Pilot Finnegan bobblehead giveaway (first 15,000 fans) 
      May 5: Light Side vs. Dark Side reversible beanie giveaway (first 15,000 fans) 
May 3: Johns Hopkins University Day* 
May 7: University of Maryland Day* 
May 8: Grateful Dead Day* 
May 22: Weather Day* 
May 24: Branch Appreciation Day, U.S. Navy 
May 25: Lane “Train” bobblehead giveaway (first 20,000 fans) 
May 26: Patriotic Series, Memorial Day 

June 

June 3: Pups in the Park;* Law Enforcement Appreciation Day* 
June 4: University of North Carolina Day* 
June 6: Night OUT;* UK-US Friendship Day* 
June 7: William & Mary Day* 
June 8: Nationals soccer jersey giveaway (first 20,000 fans, ages 21+); Old Dominion University Day* 
June 14: Mike Rizzo bobblehead giveaway (first 20,000 fans); University of Virginia Day* 
June 15: Duke University Day* 
June 16: Kids Kei "Bear" Ruiz plush giveaway (first 8,000 fans, ages 12 and under); Youth Baseball and Softball Day* 
June 18: Italian Heritage Day;* Branch Appreciation Day, U.S. Army 

July  

July 1: Florida State University Day* 
July 3: Freedom Fireworks 
July 4: Patriotic Series, Independence Day 
July 6: Branch Appreciation Day, Marine Corps 
July 7: Kids autograph cap giveaway (first 8,000 fans, ages 12 and under) 
July 19: Branch Appreciation Day, U.S. Space Force; Virginia Military Institute Day* 
July 20: MacKenzie Gore mystery jersey bobblehead giveaway (first 20,000 fans will receive one of three bobbleheads); James Madison University Day* 
July 21: Virginia Tech Day* 
July 23: Intern Day* 
July 24: Nationals Christmas in July ugly sweater tank top (first 20,000 fans) 
July 25: Camp Day*  

August 

Aug. 2: Pups in the Park;* Radford University Day* 
Aug. 3: Harry Potter Day; Harry Potter mystery house jersey giveaway (first 10,000 fans will receive one of four jerseys); Ohio State Alumni Day* 
Aug. 4: Kids shoe charms giveaway (first 8,000 fans, ages 12 and under); Scout Day* 
Aug. 5: Branch Appreciation Day, U.S. Coast Guard 
Aug. 9: Ladies Night* 
Aug. 10: Cat-urday* 
Aug. 11: Nationals football jersey giveaway (first 20,000 fans); Filipino Heritage Day* 
Aug. 21: Nationals All-Star sunglasses giveaway (first 20,000 fans) 
Aug. 26: Syracuse University Day* 
Aug. 27: George Washington University Day* 
Aug. 30: HBCU and Divine 9 Day* 
Aug. 31: CJ Abrams streetwear bobblehead giveaway (first 20,000 fans); Faith Day* 

September 

Sept. 1: Kids Ruiz catching gear T-shirt (first 8,000 fans, ages 12 and under); Jewish Heritage Day* 
Sept. 10: Pups in the Park;* George Mason University Day* 
Sept. 11: Patriotic Series, Heroes Day 
Sept. 12: Deaf Awareness Day;* Georgetown University Day* 
Sept. 13-15: 1924 Championship Centennial Weekend 
      Sept. 13: Friday Night Fireworks, 1924 themed music 
      Sept. 14: 1924 Senators-themed giveaway (first 20,000 fans) 
      Sept. 15: 1924 championship pennant (first 20,000 fans) 
Sept. 24: Catholic University Day* 
Sept. 25: Branch Appreciation Day, U.S. Air Force 
Sept. 27: Pups in the Park* 
Sept. 28: Nationals hockey jersey giveaway (first 20,000 fans); Hispanic Heritage Day* 
Sept. 29: Girl Scout Day* 

Catcher Israel Pineda cleared outright waivers a week after being designated for assignment by the Nationals, and he was assigned outright to the Triple-A Rochester on Friday. Pineda, 23, is pursuing a healthy season after battling injuries in 2023.  

Right-hander Adonis Medina also signed a Minor League deal with the Nats on Friday, and he was assigned to Rochester on Saturday. Medina, 27, has pitched for the Phillies (five games, 2020-21) and Mets (14 games, 2022) in the Major Leagues. He played for the Kia Tigers of the KBO League last season, going 2-6 with a 6.05 ERA in 12 starts.  

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