Nationals optioned 1B Abimelec Ortiz to Triple-A Rochester.

The 24-year-old Ortiz, who was acquired from Texas in the MacKenzie Gore trade, had a slight chance of winning the first base job in D.C., but he’d gone just 3-for-22 in camp. He’ll be in line for a look this summer if he goes back to thriving in Triple-A; he hit .283/.388/.565 in 41 games after moving up to Round Rock last year.