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VIERA, Fla. -- Shawn Hill is 25 years old and has made all of nine starts in his major league career. Yet upon scanning the clubhouse yesterday, the Washington Nationals right-hander noted he's already one of the senior members of the pitching staff.
"You've got to meet new people every year, but the amount of new guys compared to returning guys ... it's almost like the returning guys are outnumbered this year," Hill said. "It's like going to a new high school."
A very large high school.
Nationals pitchers and catchers reported to spring training yesterday and then proceeded to spend most of the morning introducing themselves to the largest staff in the majors. There are a staggering 38 pitchers on the spring roster, only eight of which were in Washington's major league camp a year ago.
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And while some of those pitchers are minor leaguers with virtually no chance of making the Opening Day roster, there are far more who will be given realistic shots over the next six weeks. That's especially true in a wide-open starting rotation, with at least 10 guys in the running for four open slots behind de facto ace John Patterson.
"Everybody's going to be getting a fair shot," manager Manny Acta said.
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