The Washington Nationals have hit another bump in the road with right-hander Josiah Gray, who’s been placed on the 60-day injured list due to a right flexor strain. This is a tough break for the 2023 All-Star, as he’s been working his way back from Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure.
Gray’s situation comes as a surprise. At 28, he entered camp with a clean bill of health and was even in the mix for a spot in the starting rotation.
During one spring outing, he was clocking in at 94 mph, which was a promising sign. However, concerns arose when his fastball dropped to between 90 and 92 mph in his final spring training appearance.
This dip in velocity was a key reason the Nationals decided to keep him off the Opening Day roster.
Reflecting on his journey, Gray shared, “I feel so close to being the pitcher I was before. The last piece of the puzzle is getting my velocity back and maintaining it. But I know my stuff is there.”
Looking ahead, the Nationals’ bullpen for Opening Day is set to include:
- Clayton Beeter
- Cole Henry
- Brad Lord
- Cionel Pérez (L)
- Andre Granillo
- PJ Poulin (L)
- Gus Varland
- Ken Waldichuk (L)
Gray’s last major league appearance was in April 2024, when he was initially diagnosed with the same right flexor strain. Unfortunately, after feeling discomfort during recovery, further evaluation revealed a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, leading to surgery in July of that year. This time, he’s hoping for a more positive outcome as he navigates his recovery.