Former Guardians infielder excelling at bottom of Nationals’ new-look lineup 

Aug. 5, 2023 will always be a date that will stand alone in Cleveland Guardians’ lore thanks to  José Ramírez putting Tim Anderson on his wallet with a punch heard around the world. 

But it will also be a date that José Tena will never forget, as he made his big league debut mid-way through that game as a replacement for Ramírez after he was ejected. 

And while that piece of trivia stands as the highlight of Tena’s time with the Guardians, he’s gotten off to a hot start with the Nationals this season and seems to have a legitimate chance to become an everyday player for Washington in 2026. 

He was on the Nationals’ roster bubble ahead of Opening Day but won a spot on the roster thanks in large part to the fact he’s out of MLB options. 

Former Guardian José Tena has gotten off to a hot start with Nationals

Tena, who was traded to Washington in July 2024 as a part of Cleveland’s package that got them Lane Thomas, has gone 3-for-7 through his first two games with Washington this season with two RBI. A small sample size, sure, but it’s better than starting the season 0-for-7. 

This is also the best stretch Tena’s had for the Nationals since they acquired him in that aforementioned deal. He hit .274 in 31 games in 2024 right after the trade but struggled last year to the tune of a .243/.314/.355 slashline. 

But it seems like he’s put that all in the rearview thanks to a productive first couple days in the 2026 season.

All of that production came in Washington’s stunning 13-2 win over the Phillies on Monday where they recorded 17 hits with no home runs. 

Tena’s first hit was a line drive to center field, and he added hits on a 97 mile per hour chopper in the hole between first and second before finishing his day with a spinning line drive that found a hole on the left side of the infield. 

Even though none of the balls found a hole, they were all in the right spot. 

Although the Nationals are by no means a powerhouse, they do boast some intriguing players in James Wood and CJ Abrams, along with new manager Blake Butera. 

Abrams in particular could be an X-factor in Tena’s development since a potential trade of him would open up shortstop for Tena. The Nationals seemed to spend most of the offseason shopping Abrams before pulling him off the market, but all it takes is one team. 

Tena excelling in Washington wouldn't hurt as much as some other former Guardians who have had success after leaving Cleveland. 

He was never going to get a true chance to compete thanks to the Guardians’ middle-infield logjam, so it was smart for the Guardians to sell high on him to get Thomas. 

While there’s 158 games left in the 2026 season, Tena is looking like a former Guardian worth keeping an eye on in 2026.