When the Washington Nationals made their first roster cuts of the Spring on Monday, 6 of 8 players optioned out to Triple-A or reassigned to minor league camp were pitchers, with Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez explaining it was time they get stretched out and prepare for the start of the regular season.
Joan Adon, Cole Henry, DJ Herz, Mitchell Parker, and Amos Willingham were sent down to Triple-A Rochester (along with infielder Jake Alu), while veteran Travis Blankenhorn (OF) was reassigned to minor league camp in West Palm Beach, FL.
“Really wanted to see some young guys pitch up here, and for the most part, I saw some really good things,” Martinez said, in explaining why they kept all their pitchers around as long as they did, as quoted by MLB.com’s Jessica Camerato
“But it’s time to stretch these men out and get them into a regular schedule.
“Some of these guys are going to start, so we’ve got to build them up.”
Cole Henry, 23, and a 2020 2nd Round pick by the Nats, underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in August of 2022. Martinez talked after the moves were announced on Monday about the right-hander’s progress as he works his way back.
“I was so happy with Cole Henry because of where he’s at and the fact of the way that he’s throwing the baseball,” Martinez said. “It means a lot to us and it means a lot to him to see him healthy and competing on the field. We’ve got to get him in a routine and get him going.”
Henry told MASN’s Bobby Blanco in late February he thought it would still take him a while before he was back to 100%:
“I definitely think, as with any surgery, it’s going to take a year or two years just to be fully past it,” he said. “I mean, I’ll still have hiccups here and there as far as just a little bit more soreness on different days. Doing new things or pitching for a little bit longer than I’m used to. Whatever it is, there’s gonna be a little bit of that. But as far as being able to let the reins loose a little bit, take the training wheels off it’s been full-go. No restraints as far as rehab or anything. I’ve been basically going after it like it’s gonna be a regular full season.”
After Monday’s Grapefruit League game, the club optioned the eighth player out to Triple-A, sending 2023 Rule 5 Draft pick Thaddeus Ward to Rochester after he made it through the ‘23 season with the club so they could keep the righty in the organization (rather than returning him to his original team, the Boston Red Sox, as per the rules of the Rule 5 Draft).
“He’s had a really good Spring Training, as far as throwing strikes,” Martinez said, as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman.
“Hopefully he keeps it that way, and he’s consistent. As I told everybody today: In the course of the year, we’re going to need starters. Get yourself ready, and be ready.”
