Injuries & Moves: Crews leaves Double-A game after HBP
LATEST NEWS
Aug. 29: OF Dylan Crews exits Double-A game after HBP
Crews, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's Draft, was plunked in the head by a pitch during Double-A Harrisburg's game against Binghamton. After walking in the first inning, MLB Pipeline's fourth-ranked prospect in baseball took a breaking ball on the top of his helmet on a 1-2 count in the third. Crews doubled over and quickly discarded his equipment but remained on his feet. After conferring with Senators manager Delino DeShields and athletic trainer Don Neidig, he walked off the field and into the Harrisburg dugout.
Crews was promoted to the Senators on Aug. 22 after playing one game in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League and 14 games for Single-A Fredericksburg. In his first 21 pro contests, the top Nationals prospect compiled a slash line of .326/.400/.558 with five homers, 25 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
Aug. 28: C Drew Millas selected from Triple-A; OF Blake Rutherford optioned; RHP Carl Edwards Jr. transferred to 60-day IL
Millas joins the Nationals for his first career callup. Ranked as the club's No. 23 prospect per MLB Pipeline, the 25-year-old opened the season with Double-A Harrisburg before being promoted to Triple-A Rochester on May 23.
Called up on Aug. 4, Rutherford was optioned after Sunday's game. The 26-year-old went 6-for-33 in 15 games with two RBIs.
Aug. 28: RHP Tanner Rainey progressing toward back-to-back days
Rainey, who underwent Tommy John surgery last August, is scheduled to pitch next on Wednesday after throwing seven pitches in one inning on Sunday with Double-A Harrisburg. The goal is for him to pitch in consecutive days in the next week.
Aug. 26: OF Stone Garrett placed on 60-day IL; OF Jacob Young's contract selected from Triple-A Rochester; INF Jeter Downs optioned to Rochester
Garrett, who sustained a fractured left fibula in Wednesday night's 9-1 loss to the Yankees, had surgery on Friday. Manager Dave Martinez said Saturday that the surgery “went well, and he is recovering well.” He said that Garrett will not be able to bear weight for about six weeks, after which time he will be reevaluated.
By calling up Young, Washington adds an outfielder with plenty of speed, as the seventh-round Draft pick in 2021 was one of two Minor League players to steal at least 50 bases and score at least 100 runs last season. The 24-year-old’s 118 runs scored were tied for the most across all Minor League levels, and his 52 stolen bases were the most among players in the Nationals’ system.
Young, the Nats’ No. 30 prospect, is hitting .305 with 21 doubles, five triples, six home runs, 58 RBIs, 42 walks, 39 stolen bases and 60 runs scored in 112 games across three levels of Washington’s system this year. He opened the season with High-A Wilmington before being promoted to Double-A Harrisburg and, eventually, Triple-A Rochester.
“It was really exciting, because my parents were, luckily, visiting me in Rochester,’’ said Young, who made his Major League debut as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning and scored the tying run in the Nats' comeback 3-2 victory over the Marlins on Saturday. “To be able to tell them in person was an awesome experience and something I will always remember. They were able to get a flight, as well. It has been a whirlwind.”
INJURY UPDATES
10-day and 15-day IL
RHP Thaddeus Ward (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Ward, who is getting stretched out to be a long reliever, is scheduled to throw five innings (80 pitches) with High-A Wilmington on Aug. 29. The Nationals' goal is to build him up to 60-65 pitches. (Last updated: Aug. 28)
RHP Rico Garcia (right biceps tendinitis)
Expected return: TBD
Garcia, who was placed on the IL on July 30 (retroactive to July 29), is rehabbing at the Nationals' training complex in Florida after experiencing soreness in his right shoulder. He will focus on strengthening. (Last updated: Aug. 18)
60-day IL
RHP Carl Edwards Jr. (stress fracture in right scapula)
Expected return: TBD
Manager Dave Martinez said Edwards is back in Washington and needs to “rehab, strengthen and not throw for a while.” The Nationals decided to shut down the right-hander indefinitely after he did not feel right when throwing for High-A Wilmington on Aug. 19. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on Aug. 28.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but he is going to be out for a while,” Martinez said on Aug. 23.
Edwards went on the IL on June 21 with inflammation in his right shoulder. (Last updated: Aug. 28)
RHP Tanner Rainey (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Potentially late 2023
Rainey, who underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2022, threw a seven-pitch inning with Double-A Harrisburg on Aug. 27. The goal is for him to throw on back-to-back days in the coming week. (Last updated: Aug. 28)
OF Stone Garrett (fractured left fibula)
Expected return: TBD
Garrett fractured his left fibula on Aug. 23 after twisting his leg awkwardly while trying to climb the wall at Yankee Stadium in an attempt to track down a DJ LeMahieu home run. Garrett fell to the ground and stayed there until help arrived. He was eventually carted off the field in tears. Garrett returned to D.C., where he had surgery on Aug. 25. Manager Dave Martinez said Garrett will not be able to put any weight on the leg for at least six weeks. (Last updated: Aug. 26)
CF Victor Robles (lumbar spine back spasms)
Expected return: TBD
Robles returned to work out with the Nationals on July 24 after doing strengthening and agility work at the team’s training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla. He has progressed to running on an AlterG anti-gravity treadmill. Robles is expected to remain with the Major League club until he begins a rehab assignment, the timing of which is still to be determined.
This is Robles' second stint on the IL because of back spasms this season. Robles was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 26. (Last updated: Aug. 25)
RHP Cade Cavalli (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Cavalli, the Nationals' No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is rehabbing at the Nats' training complex in Florida. Cavalli is able to do pushups, bench presses, biceps curls and triceps extensions with light weight to rebuild muscle and strength. (Last updated: July 5)
RHP Stephen Strasburg (thoracic outlet syndrome)
Expected return: TBD
Strasburg is planning to retire from baseball, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. (The club has not confirmed the report.) The 2019 World Series MVP, who was recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in 2021, had been shut down from baseball activities after experiencing discomfort. He has not pitched since June 9, 2022, when he made his only appearance of the season for Washington. (Last updated: Aug. 25)