Greetings from West Palm Beach, Fla.! Welcome to the Spring Training 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 crowd gathered on the workout fields hours before first pitch. Catcher Drew Millas walked over to the fence that looked onto the bullpen mounds. He was more than familiar with the group of fans who were waiting to see him -- he was family with them.

Millas’ mother, father, fiancée, uncle, two cousins and childhood friends traveled from St. Louis to the Nationals' Spring Training home. This is not the first time they have watched Millas get ready for the season, but this is his first camp since he made his Major League debut on Aug. 28.

“I [was] frantically searching for extra tickets every day,” Millas, 26, said. “It’s a very fun time.”

Millas, the Nationals’ No. 20 prospect per MLB Pipeline, welcomed the company. His fiancée, Ashley, stays with him for the whole camp, while his other relatives get a break from the winter weather in the Midwest.

“They love it,” Millas said. “It’s like a vacation for them, too.”

Millas’ father, Andy, is in his element soaking up the pregame workouts and games: He runs a baseball facility in St. Louis. He has been a mainstay by the bullpens in the years since Millas first participated in Nats camp, proudly observing his son in action.

Nel and Andy Millas watch Drew warm up.

“He’s always watching really closely, the drills we do, the stuff we do on a daily basis, all the positions, not just me,” Millas said. “Not only that, but he comes to a lot of games in affiliate ball, too. All the guys that I’ve played with might know him in some way, and he’ll call some of the guys over. They have good talks with everybody.

“On my dad’s end, he loves to get here early and watches everything. That’s his vacation. Everybody is at the beach [on days I don’t play], but he’ll come here.”

Millas had fun at an off-day golf outing and postgame dinners with his relatives. But for all the games there are to watch and activities to do in the area, he most enjoyed the nights he could simply go to his parents’ place and hang out with his family. 

“It’s incredible,” Millas said. “I think sometimes you take it for granted when you’re at home and they’re all around. But to truly see how much they actually care, to come all the way here and watch me, it means a lot.”

Josiah Gray’s phone was flooded with congratulatory messages on Monday after he was announced as the Nationals' Opening Day starter. Amid the flurry of texts, a blast from the past at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., stood out.

“The seniors at the time, when I went on an official visit, I slept on their couch,” Gray, 26, said. “Long story short, the guy that I haven’t talked to in years texted me and said, ‘Long ways away from sleeping on our couch. I’m proud of you.’ That was probably the most meaningful one.”

The Nationals held their annual Cabbage Relay Race on Monday. Following a full-team draft and preliminary rounds, the championship came down to Team CJ Abrams-Lane Thomas against Team MacKenzie Gore-Hunter Harvey. With Dylan Crews and Stone Garrett in the all-important role of closers, it was Crews, the 2023 No. 2 overall MLB Draft pick, who smashed the cabbage into the pavement first to clinch the victory for Team Abrams-Thomas.

“They were very competitive, and I loved it,” said manager Dave Martinez.

On Deck: The Nationals Future Game will be played at 12:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday at Nationals Park. A group of prospects expected to take the field in the exhibition and attend the Homecoming Gala at The Wharf that evening include: 

• Outfielders: Crews (MLB’s No. 7 prospect, the Nationals’ No. 1 prospect), James Wood (MLB No. 14, Nationals' No. 2), Robert Hassell III (Nationals' No. 8)

• Infielders: Brady House (MLB No. 48, Nationals' No. 3), Trey Lipscomb (Nationals' No. 16), Darren Baker (Nationals' No. 27)

• Pitchers: DJ Herz (Nationals' No. 12), Jackson Rutledge (Nationals' No. 15), Amos Willingham

• Catchers: Millas (No. 20)

Right-hander Cole Henry (the Nationals’ No. 25 prospect) and designated hitter T.J. White (No. 30) were named to the All-Spring Breakout Second Team. Henry recorded three strikeouts in one scoreless inning, and White went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.

• March 28: 2024 Opening Day (Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati); Opening Day watch party (The Brighton)

• April 1: Nationals' 2024 home opener; reversible bucket hat giveaway (first 20,000 fans)

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