Washington Nationals Add Infield Depth Ahead of Spring Training, Claim Tsung-Che Cheng and Sign Sergio Alcantara

The Washington Nationals continue to piece together their roster ahead of 2026 Spring Training, with pitchers and catchers scheduled to report on Wednesday, February 11, and the club’s first full-squad workout set for Monday, February 16 at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Washington signed Dominican infielder Sergio Alcantara to a minor league deal on January 28, according to Francys Romero of beisbolfr.com.

Dominican infielder Sergio Alcántara signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals, per sources.

Alcántara, 29, appeared in one MLB game with the San Francisco Giants in 2025 season.

Represented by The Movement Baseball.

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 28, 2026

As of publication, the Nationals have not yet listed Alcantara’s signing on their official transaction page.

The 29-year-old switch hitter from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has played parts of four Major League seasons with the Detroit Tigers (2020), Chicago Cubs (2021), Arizona Diamondbacks (2022), San Diego Padres (2022), and San Francisco Giants (2025).

Alcantara most recently appeared in 25 games for Tigres del Licey during the 2025–26 LIDOM season, batting .143/.286/.190 across 77 plate appearances, with nine hits, one double, one triple, four RBIs, one stolen base, 13 walks, and 20 strikeouts.

Last season, Alcantara was invited to Giants spring training as a non-roster invitee. He appeared in 15 games during the 2025 Cactus League, hitting .136/.208/.136 in 22 at-bats, collecting three hits, one RBI, two walks, and six strikeouts.

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Alcantara appeared in just one regular-season game for San Francisco in 2025, going hitless and striking out twice in a road game against the Athletics in Sacramento.

The Giants designated Alcantara for assignment on July 5, sending him outright to Triple-A Sacramento on July 8 before he elected free agency on July 10. The Arizona Diamondbacks signed him on July 18, but he was designated for assignment again on July 20 and sent outright to Triple-A Reno on July 22.

Between Sacramento and Reno, Alcantara played in 113 games, batting .251 across 441 plate appearances, collecting 92 hits, 21 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 37 RBIs, four stolen bases, 67 walks, 87 strikeouts, and posting a .708 OPS.

Alcantara elected free agency on September 29 before signing with Washington.

Across his four Major League seasons, Alcantara has appeared in 193 games, compiling a .207 career batting average in 506 plate appearances, with 93 hits, 14 doubles, five triples, 12 home runs, 47 RBIs, four stolen bases, and a .618 OPS.

The Nationals also claimed Taiwanese shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the New York Mets on January 28, designating left-handed pitcher Konnor Pilkington for assignment to make room on the roster.

The Nationals claimed shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the New York Mets and designated left-handed pitcher Konnor Pilkington for assignment. https://t.co/DtKx0OPAYr

— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) January 28, 2026

The 24-year-old left-handed hitter from Pingtung County, Taiwan, made his MLB debut last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, appearing in three games without recording a hit while striking out three times.

Cheng split the 2025 season between Low-A Bradenton and Triple-A Indianapolis. He was optioned to Indianapolis on March 11, where he played 107 games, batting .209 in 397 plate appearances, with 71 hits, 12 doubles, three triples, one home run, 36 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, 47 walks, 99 strikeouts, and a .578 OPS.

In his three games with Low-A Bradenton, Cheng batted .125/.222/.125 in nine plate appearances, recording one hit, two stolen bases, one walk, and two strikeouts.

Cheng originally signed with the Pirates during the international signing period on July 2, 2019. Over five minor league seasons, he has played in 507 games, batting .251 in 2,072 plate appearances, with 440 hits, 88 doubles, 21 triples, 35 home runs, 230 RBIs, 112 stolen bases, 258 walks, 429 strikeouts, and a .736 OPS.

This offseason, Cheng moved organizations multiple times after being designated for assignment by Pittsburgh on December 19. He was claimed by the Tampa Bay Rays on January 7, designated again on January 12, claimed by the New York Mets on January 16, and designated for assignment once more on January 21 before landing with Washington.

Washington’s front office will closely evaluate its infield options heading into the 2026 season after finishing last in the National League East in 2025 with a 66–96 record, 30 games behind the division-winning Philadelphia Phillies.

Under first-year manager Blake Butera, the Nationals will open Grapefruit League play on February 21 with split-squad games against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, and at home against the Houston Astros, both scheduled for 1:05 p.m. EST.

Washington will open the 2026 regular season on the road against the Chicago Cubs on March 26 at 2:20 p.m. EDT.

Photo: Colombia’s baseman Tsung Che Cheng, right, is congratulated by a teammate after scoring a run against Venezuela during a Caribbean Series baseball game in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)