Ex-Red Sox Fan-Favorite, Top Prospect Looking To Revive Career With NL East Club

The Nationals will have a familiar face on the roster in 2023

One former Boston Red Sox top prospect got some good news Thursday morning. 

Former Boston utility man Michael Chavis officially made the Washington Nationals' Opening Day roster after signing with the club to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training this past offseason, according to the club. 

Chavis was drafted by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft and began his professional career in the club's farm system. The 27-year-old worked his way up the organization and made his Major League Baseball debut in 2019.

The former top prospect shined out of the gate for Boston, but inconsistent play after his rookie year would end his career in Boston. Chavis spent the first two full seasons of his big league career with Boston and then was traded during the 2021 campaign to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for reliever Austin Davis. 

Chavis played a major role with Pittsburgh in 2022 and appeared in a career-high 129 games and finished the season slashing .229/.265/.389 to go along with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs. The utility man set new career-highs with 92 total hits, 16 doubles, and three triples last season.

The 27-year-old signed with the Nationals this past offseason after being designated for assignment by Pittsburgh. His role with Washington is unclear, but he likely will serve in a utility bench role this season. Chavis still has impressive power and clubbed a home run in spring training action for Washington to go along with four RBIs. 

Throughout spring training Chavis slashed .225/.295/.325 in 22 games and chipped in a double and walked four times to go along with 13 strikeouts in 40 at-bats. Hopefully, this move in Washington is a step in the right direction for the former first-round pick as he looks to revive his career. 

At this point, he may be a bench player for Washington, but if he's able to impress maybe it could lead to an even larger role. The fact that he made the team out of spring training is impressive in itself. Hopefully, he can continue the momentum with the Nationals this season. 

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