Signed as a free agent by Venezuela in 2017, Jose A. Ferrer will make his major league debut in 2023, and last season, the 23-year-old left-hander stepped up as a member of the major league bullpen and began his journey to the world. . By the end of his second campaign with the Nationals, he had logged high-leverage innings.
Ferrer injured his left latissimus dorsi muscle during spring training, which kept him out until mid-July, but he impressed upon his return.
“When he first got hurt, I thought they told me what it was. I thought he was going to be out for a very long time,” coach Davey Martinez said on Sept. 12. ”, noting how the injury and his recovery ultimately served as a lesson for the team. southpaw.
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“He’s a strong kid. He worked really hard to come back. And the best part is he didn’t lose any of his velo. Everything is intact. He worked really hard all season. He knows he has to maintain his strength. He’s done all the work in the training room and his legs are strong. I’m really happy that he’s back to where he was.”
Ferrer’s 2024 highlights (from Washington’s official season in review):
- From August 10th until the end of the season, he recorded an ERA of 1.42 (ERA: 4/25.1 IP) with 19 strikeouts and 2 walks. ”
- Pitched 12.0 scoreless innings from August 10th to September 3rd.
- Left-handed pitchers batted .167 (7 hits for 42 at bats) against him in 2024.
- He did not allow a home run until his last game against Philadelphia on September 28th…He was one of three relief pitchers with an IP rating of 30.0 or higher who did not allow a HR at that time.
“I think he has no doubt. If he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s going to be a guy on the end of the bullpen,” the Nats’ captain said in mid-September, shortly after Ferrer earned his first save in the majors. Davey Martinez told reporters.
“Looking at him now, there aren’t that many left-handed pitchers who can throw like he can. The only thing I remember is, [Josh] Hader. ”
“He’s doing well. His biggest thing is his ability to throw strikes right now and throw fastballs for strikes. And he’s got confidence.
“He’s so confident now and I love that about him.”
Ferrer threw sinkers 58.8% of the time and held opposing batters to a .247 batting average on the field, mixing in a changeup (19.1%; 88.3 MPH; 0.227 BAA) and a four-seam fastball (16.6%; 98.3 MPH; 0.235 BAA). . and slider (5.5%; 88 MPH; 0.000 BAA).
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Why was Ferrer’s sinker so good? Wait a minute…
“I don’t know if he knows to throw a sinker,” Martinez joked to reporters on the final day of the regular season.
“He just throws the ball and it’s very hard and the ball has a very good horizontal break, yes. But it’s very effective, yes.
“The reason I say that,” on not knowing whether Ferrer will throw a sinker, “is because I don’t want to start thinking about it all in his head, and all of a sudden he says, ‘Oh, I’m going to throw a sinker.'” It’s a sinker. .
“The next thing you know he’s throwing a bowling ball, he’s doing great, yeah.”
Ferrer said Martinez was good enough to give him two save chances late in the game, and the left-handed Ferrer could be more productive in the final weekend.
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Photo by Rich Story/Getty Images
“I definitely see him having the potential to pitch in high-leverage situations at the back of the bullpen,” Martinez said.
“He’s done really well. I’ve been giving him more opportunities to do that, and he’s done really well. Will we see him develop into something else? Probably. He’s tough.
“He’s tough on lefties and righties. He did really well.
“He’s come a long way. Because of the injury he had earlier, we didn’t really know when he’d be able to pitch again, but he’s worked hard to recover and he’s feeling really good right now.”
