Wed 2/11/15 10:15 AM

Espinosa will hit exclusively from the right side during spring training, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports.His ongoing struggles while hitting left-handed, including a .183/.241/.291 slash line and hideous 39.0 K% in 249 PAs last season, had led to speculation that Espinosa would give up switch-hitting entirely, but this is the first confirmation that he's actually committing to the idea. The Nationals plan to give him extra work in minor league games during the spring to help him adjust to seeing breaking balls from righties as a right-handed batter. The acquisition of Yunel Escobar has Espinosa ticketed for the bench to begin the season, but if he can become a more reliable asset at the plate he could re-establish his potential as a starting infielder, either in Washington or elsewhere.