Nationals place 3B Nick Senzel on IL, call up Trey Lipscomb

The Washington Nationals placed third baseman Nick Senzel on the 10-day injured list Saturday and selected the contract of infielder Trey Lipscomb.

The move is retroactive to Wednesday for Senzel, who is nursing a fractured right thumb.

Senzel, 28, sustained the injury while fielding grounders during batting practice prior to Thursday's season-opening game against the host Cincinnati Reds. One grounder struck his right thumb and X-rays confirmed the break.

It was a cruel break for Senzel, who was returning to Cincinnati to face his former team after spending five seasons with the Reds. He was the club's No. 2 overall draft selection in 2016.

Senzel batted .239 with 33 homers and 125 RBIs in 377 games over five seasons for Cincinnati. Last season, Senzel batted .236 with a career-best 13 homers in 104 games. He matched his career-high of 42 RBIs but slugged just .399.

Lipscomb, 23, is expected to make his major league debut on Saturday.

He batted .400 with one homer and seven RBIs in 21 games during spring training. He was named Washington's 2023 Minor League Defensive Player of the Year and the recipient of the Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award for third basemen.