The Washington Nationals finally got a positive step forward from DJ Herz on Saturday, and it came in the first game action he’s had since being cleared to restart his rehab assignment.
Herz, a left-hander who had been working his way back from Tommy John surgery and then a left flexor strain, threw one inning with Single-A Fredericksburg. In that brief outing, he struck out three batters, allowed one hit and issued one walk.
That kind of showing only adds to the intrigue around what Herz might look like once he’s back for real. During his rehab work, he has said he believes his stuff may actually be better than it was before the UCL injury that led to surgery. Saturday’s three-strikeout inning, even against Single-A hitters, was another sign that the stuff is still playing.
Herz finished his MLB debut season in 2024 with a Stuff+ mark of 99 over 88 2/3 innings, and he logged 106 strikeouts against 36 walks in 19 starts. He also went 4-9 with a 4.16 ERA. For a Nationals rotation that could use help, that’s why his return has mattered from the start.
Back in mid-June, Herz hit a setback while pushing toward a comeback and was shut down because of the flexor strain, which made his timetable far less certain. But things have moved in the right direction since then, and he’s now been cleared to resume the rehab assignment.
Blake Butera said the Nationals are going to be careful with Herz, which fits the circumstances. Even so, he’s expected back before the end of the season, giving Washington a chance to see how he looks against big-league hitters after being out for more than a year.
The exact date remains unclear. Still, being back on the mound at all is a good sign. And looking sharp in the first outing back makes it even better.
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