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Since moving to our nation’s capital in 2005, the Washington Nationals have prioritized supporting United States military members and their families. In 2025, the Nationals continued to honor and celebrate the armed forces through a range of programs, season-long in-game tributes and participating in base visits in the D.C. area and abroad.
The team’s proximity to numerous military bases has provided unique opportunities for players and staff to connect directly with service members through initiatives such as Nats on Base, allowing players to visit active-duty military members at their stations. An initiative that began locally has transcended borders in recent years, taking Nationals baseball to service members as far as Doha, Qatar.
In September, former Nationals infielder Brian Dozier and outfielder Adam Eaton, both members of the 2019 World Series team, journeyed more than 7,000 miles to Al-Uedid Air Base in Qatar to visit service members in the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) — the world’s largest expeditionary wing — for a multi-day tour to meet and engage with the base’s thousands of U.S. troops.
“When we come to Qatar and experience Al-Udeid Air Force Base, the men and women here that serve us from thousands of miles away have a great appreciation when we show up,” said Eaton, who made his second-consecutive trip to Al-Udeid this year. “We have great fellowship with these airmen. We talked about their experiences, our experiences and were able to sit down with them on a more personal level and tell them how much we appreciate them.”
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While in Qatar, Dozier and Eaton joined military exercises and demonstrations, learned more about the base’s operations, hosted a baseball skills clinic and home run derby competition, and coached an intramural softball game on the brand-new softball field, which was erected following the success of last year’s trip. The new field allowed more than 200 service members to participate in and watch the action.
Dozier, Eaton and the rest of the Nationals travel party also had the opportunity to spread goodwill away from the base, paying a visit to the Georgetown University campus in Doha, playing softball with other Americans living abroad, and visiting players from the Challengers youth baseball team, which gives children with physical and intellectual challenges the chance to participate and enjoy the game of baseball.
“It was cool for me to visit with a lot of the airmen, put a smile on their faces, and to have a little fun doing it,” said Dozier who made his first-ever visit to the base.
The trip was capped off by a live watch party at the base, where service members were able to cheer on the Nationals as they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4–3.
From Al Udeid airfield, SMSgt. John Goodman threw a ceremonial first pitch to Dozier prior to the game, while back on U.S. soil, his wife and family threw pitches of their own at Nationals Park with Goodman watching live via satellite.
Several service members stationed at Al Udeid recorded messages for their loved ones, which were played live throughout the game between innings while their loved ones watched from a Nationals Park suite.
“That’s the great thing about baseball,” said Gregory McCarthy, Nationals senior vice president of community and government engagement. “It’s about bringing people together and bringing this experience to the men and women here who are serving overseas.”
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At home, the Nats on Base initiative has reached bases and institutions important to our nation’s military in the Washington D.C. area. During the 2025 season, Nats on Base took Nationals players and their families to Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, and Joint Bases Andrews and Myer-Henderson Hall.
Ahead of Memorial Day, five players and their families traveled to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Va., including Nationals’ 2025 Roberto Clemente Award nominee Trevor Williams and pitcher Mitchell Parker, who was set to make a starting appearance the same day. The players learned about the base’s history and current operational services, interacted and played catch with base members and their families, and watched special performances from the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. The base visit followed a trip to Arlington National Cemetery where the group paid their respects to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, received a special tour from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, and witnessed the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
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Just less than five miles from Nationals Park, current and former players often pay visits to the Pentagon to meet and interact with service members and Department of Defense employees. In August, Nationals outfielder Jacob Young and his wife, Caroline, visited the Pentagon and gifted DoD officials signed hats and 60 Jacob Young bobbleheads. Outfielder James Wood gifted 60 of his oversized bobbleheads to the sergeant major of the Army, Sgt. Maj. Michael R Weimer, as well as soldiers from across the National Capital Region. Former infielder Ryan Zimmerman met with the then-chief of staff of the Air Force, Gen. David W. Allvin, to deliver his NATS20 Mystery Moments bobblehead to Air and Space Force personnel stationed at the Pentagon.