HATTIESBURG — Jarrett Hoffpauir is looking to put last year’s injury-plagued season behind him, and the Washington Nationals have offered him a chance to do that.

The former Vidalia High School standout signed a minor-league deal with Washington Wednesday, and will report to spring training with hopes of making the team.

“They have a lot of young talent and a couple of veteran guys that are pretty good players,” Hoffpauir said. “I think they’ll be contenders in the years to come, so it’s kind of exciting. They’re looking to build around that young talent.”

Hoffpauir, 28, said if he doesn’t make the Nationals out of spring training, he’ll likely go to the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse, N.Y.

Right now, Hoffpauir said he’s doing offseason workouts, focusing on weight lifting, speed and footwork, along with his hitting. Hoffpauir said he works out with his brother Josh, head coach at Pearl River Community College.

“I’m just trying to get ready to go into spring 100 percent,” Hoffpauir said.

Although Hoffpauir had a setback last season with a pulled quad, he said he’s going into the 2012 season with an open mind.

“It just takes one little break to get your foot back in the door,” Hoffpauir said. “I can’t dwell on the past, I just have to play the best baseball I can play. Hopefully, it all works out.”

Hoffpauir pulled his quad in spring training this past season, and he said the injury kept him out two and a half months, severely messing up his routine.

“I couldn’t run, and when I thought I was close to being ready, I would pull it again,” Hoffpauir said. “I think I just tried to rush it. It’s tough, but you just have to play through it.”

Position players are scheduled to report to the Nationals’ spring training complex Feb. 23 in Viera, Fla.