When the Washington Nationals made their first roster cuts of the spring on Monday, six of the eight players optioned out to Triple-A or reassigned to minor league camp were pitchers, including Nats captain and One Davey Martinez explained that it’s time to get physically ready for the start of the regular season.
Joan Aydon, Cole Henry, DJ Hurts, Mitchell Parker and Amos Willingham (along with infielder Jake Al) were sent to Triple-A Rochester, and veteran Travis Blankenhorn (OF) was sent to West Palm Beach, Fla. was reassigned to minor league camp. .
“I really wanted to see some of the younger guys pitch here, but for the most part I saw some really good ones,” Martinez said of why he kept all of his pitchers for so long. He explained: Quoted by Jessica Camerato of MLB.com.
“But it’s time to stretch them out and get them into a routine.
“Some of them are starting players, so we have to step them up.”
But Martinez took a closer look at those pitchers and liked what he saw.
“They have a really good pitching combination, they really do,” Martinez told reporters.
“They attack the strike zone. There was no fear in them.”
Cole Henry, 23, a second-round pick by the Nationals in 2020, underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in August 2022. After the transfer was announced on Monday, Martinez spoke about his right-hander’s progress toward his return.
“I was very happy with Cole Henry, given where he is and the way he throws the baseball,” Martinez said. “It means a lot to us and to him to see him healthy and competing on the field. We’ve got to get him into a routine and get him going.”
Henry told MASN’s Bobby Blanco. In late February, he thought it would take a while to get back to 100%.
“As with any surgery, I definitely think it’s going to take a year or two to fully get over it,” he says. “I mean, it’s just a little more sore on some days, and I still get some hiccups here and there. Doing new things, throwing a little longer than I’m used to. Whatever it is, it’s going to be a little bit like that. But as long as we’re able to loosen the reins a little bit and take the training wheels off, it’s totally on its way. There’s no restrictions on rehab or anything like that. We’ve basically been working on it as if it’s going to be a normal full season.”
After Monday’s Grapefruit League game, the club picked up the option to release an eighth player to Triple-A, sending Thaddeus Ward, a 2023 Rule 5 draft pick who played the 2023 season with the club, to Rochester. Made it possible to leave handedness in the organization (Rather than bring him back to his original team, boston red soxaccording to rule 5 draft rules).
“He’s had a really good spring training as far as throwing strikes,” Martinez said. Quoted by Mark Zuckerman of MASN.
“I hope he keeps that up and he’s been consistent. Like I told everyone today, we’re going to need a starter all year long. Be ready, be ready. please.”
Also:
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If you haven’t read yesterday’s FBB post yet, please do so now as it includes a section about Davey Martinez seemingly taking a tough love approach to Luis Garcia.
Now, Mike Rizzo, quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman, asks about Garcia’s recent mental missteps and the competition for the second base and center field positions this spring, which Garcia and Victor Robles are trying to claim. This is what he told reporters.The position they have held in DC for the past few years
What is Lizzo’s take on the current situation?:
“I think they’re playing hard and they’re playing well,” Rizzo said. “We have to eliminate mental lapses and mental mistakes. But if you think about it, they’re both still young chronologically. It’s like they’ve been here forever. They look young, but they’re still young. Lewis is only 23. If they didn’t have the ability, obviously you wouldn’t be able to put up with the mental mistakes they make. But they have a lot of ability. They’ve shown it in the past at this level. We’ve got to get them through it because it doesn’t help the team.”
this:
On Tuesday afternoon, the Nationals announced their latest roster cuts.
The Nationals optioned RHP Zach Buzyksi to Triple-A Rochester.
The 24-year-old Buziksi missed the entire 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but GM Mike Rizzo said before entering camp that he was doing well this winter.
“He’s classic Tommy John surgery,” Rizzo said at the winter meetings. “He’s a reliever. We expect him to participate in spring training and he might start playing slow in spring training, but the Tommy John protocols are going well and he There are no signs of rehabilitation.”
Burzyksi participated in spring training last season as well, and the undrafted free agent who signed with the club in 2020 will return for the 2022 season and has a 1.76 ERA in 51 games in the Nationals’ three-level system. The club pointed out that he had achieved this result. After they added a right-hander to their 40-man roster this winter.
