WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Washington Nationals made their first round of spring training cuts Monday as the team’s roster started to take shape ahead of Opening Day.

Right-handed pitchers Joan Adon, Cole Henry and Amos Willingham were optioned to Class AAA Rochester along with lefties DJ Herz and Mitchell Parker. Right-hander Thaddeus Ward was optioned after he pitched a scoreless frame in the Nationals’ 11-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter on Monday afternoon.

“It’s time to get these guys stretched out and get them on a regular routine,” Nationals Manager Dave Martinez said. “Some of these guys are going to start, so [we’ve] got to build them up, but it was good to see some of these guys compete up here, and they did really well.”

Utility man Jake Alu, who made his major league debut last season, was optioned to Class AAA Rochester, and outfielder Travis Blankenhorn was reassigned to minor league camp.

With two weeks left in spring training, Washington’s projected starting rotation is beginning to become clear. Patrick Corbin, MacKenzie Gore, Jake Irvin and Zach Davies are expected to pitch in the next four days. Few chances remain for the team’s young arms to pitch beyond a few innings at a time.

Adon pitched three scoreless innings in his lone spring training start Sunday afternoon, showing strong command of the strike zone, an issue for him in the past. Martinez raved about Parker’s ability to attack the zone and get ahead in his two scoreless innings.

Still, Adon, Henry, Herz and Parker were already long shots to make Washington’s Opening Day roster. All four have minor league options remaining.

Ward spent last season in the majors as a reliever and had a 6.37 ERA in 26 games. The Nationals, who selected the 27-year-old in the Rule 5 Draft in 2022, had to keep him on the active roster for the entire season. Washington views Ward as a starter and will stretch him out for the role.

“I told everybody today, in the course of the year, we’re going to need starters,” Martinez said. “So get yourself ready and be ready. He was good. I love the way he threw the ball today.”

Willingham — a 25-year old righty reliever who debuted last summer — faced tough odds, too, with the team’s returning bullpen and a handful of veteran nonroster invites.

Notably, right-hander Jackson Rutledge, the team’s 2019 first-round pick, remained in big league camp.

Alu, 26, got off to a slow start at spring training, and Martinez said he wanted him to get consistent at-bats in the minors to rediscover his swing. Trey Lipscomb, Washington’s versatile 23-year-old prospect, is still in big league camp and gives the Nationals another young utility option. Alu and Blankenhorn were the only position players impacted by Monday’s moves, meaning Washington’s top hitting prospects — including outfielders James Wood and Dylan Crews and infielder Brady House — still remain.

Robert Hassell III, one of the team’s top outfield prospects, was scheduled to get an MRI exam on his groin Monday afternoon after tweaking it in Friday’s game. Martinez didn’t seem too concerned about the injury and said Hassell told him he felt much better.

Rosario ‘here to help out’

Eddie Rosario’s first hit of spring training was a slow roller that didn’t leave the infield grass. But he was able to beat out the throw from shortstop Brandon Crawford, emphatically making a safe call when his foot hit first. Rosario finished 1 for 3 in Washington’s win over the Cardinals. He struck out in his second at-bat and flied out to left field in his third.

While Rosario didn’t display the power Monday that helped him hit 21 home runs a season ago, the Nationals hope it comes in the coming days as he establishes his timing.

The 32-year-old also provides flexibility for Martinez, who has talked with him about playing left field and filling in as a center fielder. Rosario and outfielder Jesse Winker share similar profiles as veteran, left-handed hitters. But if Rosario can play in center, both players could share the outfield together, along with Lane Thomas, leaving Victor Robles, Alex Call or Jacob Young, who are all right-handed hitters, on the bench to maximize the team’s offensive potential.

Rosario said he has watched the Nationals from afar and admired their young talent. Now he’s here to be an example.

“I’m here to help out in any way I can with the young guys,” Rosario said. “I have several years of experience at the big league level. I bring that to the table as well. But I know that my game can help the team out.”