"Toboni and Butera have been hard at work assembling a young and forward-thinking coaching staff since the hiring of Butera was initially announced a few weeks ago, and earlier this week, the Nationals poached yet another rising name on the coaching side. Perhaps what makes it even sweeter is the fact that this time it came from a National League East rival."
"The Nationals have now hired Tyler Smarslok as the team's field coordinator, a role that varies slightly from the one he held with the Miami Marlins, his previous team. Smarslok served as the first base coach that also helped to coach players on their baserunning and infield defense, two areas in which the Nationals were extremely poor in over the last few years."
"Clearly, the Nationals' new regime and leadership has identified numerous areas of clear weakness within the club, as most fans knew that the team was extremely undisciplined in their baserunning and has also notoriously been a porous defensive club, especially in the infield. Under Smarslok's guidance this past season, utility player Javier Sanoja won a Gold Glove award while second baseman Xavier Edwards was a finalist as well."
Paul Toboni and Blake Butera have rebuilt the Washington Nationals' coaching staff with an emphasis on youth and modern approaches. The team hired Tyler Smarslok as field coordinator, shifting him from his Miami Marlins role where he coached first base, baserunning, and infield defense. Smarslok's work contributed to Javier Sanoja winning a Gold Glove and Xavier Edwards becoming a finalist. The Nationals have struggled with undisciplined baserunning and weak infield defense in recent seasons. The new regime aims to correct those deficiencies and develop players like CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia Jr. into more reliable defenders.
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