The Washington Nationals will debut their bullpen cart during Friday’s game against the Miami Marlins. The Nationals used “Screech” their mascot and President Teddy to unveil the “”WGL Energy bullpen cart” Friday afternoon.
https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/1030525619019374592
The video highlighted the cart can travel from 0 to 20 miles per hour in five seconds. The Nationals join the Arizona Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers as MLB clubs using a bullpen cart, as teams were permitted to use one starting this season.
Nats closer Sean Doolittle raved about Arizona’s bullpen cart that he used back in May. His advocating helped the Nationals look into the matter and ultimately deciding for one of their own. Doolittle, who is currently on the disabled list, was “super excited” upon learning the news on Thursday as the team was in St. Louis.
“I heard some rumblings like right after that that they were going to look into it, but hadn’t heard anything for a long time,” Doolittle said per MLB.com’s Jamal Collier. “I was super excited to find out.”
Doolittle was the first National reliever to use one and after some convincing got Ryan Madson and Brandon Kintzler to try it. Both joined Doolittle in advocating for it. In total, Washington used it six times in a four-game sweep of the D-Backs. Both Madson and Doolittle are on the disabled list and won’t get to enjoy the bullpen cart for a little while. Kintzler has since been traded to the Chicago Cubs.
Even if pitchers don’t choose to use the @Nationals bullpen cart, it will still be brought out during pitching changes to add a little fun & maybe deliver a jacket, sunflower seeds or other stuff to the dugout @WTOP @WTOPSports pic.twitter.com/oCQu4mxkQo
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) August 17, 2018
With the bullpen struggling, maybe adding a cart is perfect timing for the Nationals? We’ll just have to wait and see.
