The Nationals outrighted Yepez to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.
While no longer on the 40-man roster, Yepez will remain in the Nationals organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 27-year-old has slashed only .199/.273/.301 at Rochester in 2025.
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Nationals' Juan Yepez: Pushed off 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Nationals designated Yepez for assignment Monday.
Yepez will be moved off the Nationals' 40-man roster to clear a spot for infielder Brady House, who was promoted from Triple-A Rochester on Monday. After failing to win a spot on Washington's Opening Day roster coming out of spring training, Yepez has spent the entire season with Rochester and has hit .199/.273/.301 with three home runs in 172 plate appearances. Given his struggles at Triple-A and limited defensive flexibility, the 27-year-old Yepez is likely to clear waivers.
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Nationals' Juan Yepez: Relegated to minors
Rotowire
The Nationals optioned Yepez to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.
Yepez managed just a .559 OPS through 48 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League, which is enough of a drop from his performance in the majors last year (.764 OPS) to have him sent back to Triple-A. He should receive regular playing time while in Rochester and may be a candidate to serve as bench depth in Washington if his bat gets hot.
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Nationals' Juan Yepez: Ticketed for Triple-A
Rotowire
The Nationals are expected to option Yepez to Triple-A Rochester on Thursday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
After producing a .764 OPS in 249 plate appearances with Washington in 2024, Yepez appeared to be in good position to make the Nationals' Opening Day roster entering camp, but he wasn't able to win a spot after slashing .244/.292/.267 over 48 plate appearances in Grapefruit League play. The 27-year-old should be in line for an everyday role with Rochester while likely making starts at first base, designated hitter and in left field.
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Nationals' Juan Yepez: Focusing on third base this spring
Rotowire
Yepez has been working out mostly at third base early on in spring training, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Yepez played third base a lot in the minors and made three starts there with the Cardinals back in 2022, but that was the last time he saw any action at the position in a game setting. Third base is the only position for the Nationals that doesn't currently appear to have a starter locked in, so it's worth tracking this spring to see if Yepez continues seeing reps there. That said, it's a long shot that he'll be entrusted as a regular at the hot corner given his defensive limitations.
Yepez is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Andres Chaparro (personal) is away on paternity leave, but Luis Garcia will get another start at designated hitter, which leaves no room in the lineup for Yepez. Yepez had started seven of the previous eight contests, although he's seen his playing time drop in September on the whole.
Nationals' Juan Yepez: Sitting against another righty
Rotowire
Yepez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.
It's the second straight absence and third in four games for Yepez, with his only start during that stretch coming against a left-handed starter. Joey Gallo is starting at first base while Andres Chaparro serves as the designated hitter Wednesday against Miami righty Valente Bellozo, as it appears Yepez has fallen into the short side of a platoon, at least for the time being.
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