In a fog

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Sean Burnett delivers a pitch during his bullpen session.

VIERA, Fla. -- Upon arriving at Space Coast Stadium at 8:15 this morning, I didn't think there was any chance the Nationals would be able to start their workout on time. A dense fog blanketed the entire area and made it impossible to see more than 50 feet in front of your own nose. I can only imagine what Wilson Ramos would think squatting behind the plate and waiting for one of Collin Balester's 95 mph fastballs to emerge from the soup.

The fog, though, quickly burned off, and by 9 a.m. it was more than clear enough for the players to head down to the practice fields and conduct business as usual.

Nothing too exciting to report from today's workout. It's still only pitchers and catchers formally participating, though today is reporting day for position players and most of them started emerging out there as the pitchers were wrapping up to conduct their own informal round of BP.

Position players are scheduled to take their physicals tomorrow, then the full squad finally works out Tuesday morning. Bryce Harper will be among the guys in uniform, and he's expected to speak that afternoon.

You get the sense that everyone is ready for camp to pick up a bit, because there's only so much that can be accomplished in these early workouts. Pitchers are starting to want to face live hitters. Not sure if the hitters will feel the same way, though they'll have no choice but to at least stand in the batter's box and watch pitches fly by during the "live BP" sessions that will start up in a couple of days.

More to come this afternoon...

[UPDATE AT 2:30 P.M. -- Luis Atilano, who was designated for assignment last week, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Syracuse. The right-hander will return to big-league camp and participate as a non-roster invitee.]