Jose Tena packs a big punch in a small frame for the Washington Nationals
Jose Tena is not a big man but he hits the ball as hard as anyone on the Nationals not named James Wood
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 18: José Tena #8 of the Washington Nationals bats during the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Monday, May 18, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images When you look at Jose Tena, you do not see a huge physical presence. He is a pretty unassuming guy, listed at 5’10 195 pounds.
You would guess Tena was a speedy, contact oriented player if you had not seen him play before. However, his defining trait is how hard he hits the baseball and how much force he generates from his small frame. This season, Tena has seen a huge spike in his bat speed.
It has gone from a below average 70. 8 MPH to a well above average 73. 5 MPH.
After yesterday’s game, I asked Tena how he has improved his bat speed. He told me that he was working on getting stronger, especially in the core area. Tena also said that working with the Nats hitting coaches has helped as well.
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