It wasn’t much, just 23 pitches to a couple of hitters standing in front of a screen while several coaches and trainers watched from behind. For Josiah Gray, however, this was a significant step: the first time he faced live hitters since he went on the disabled list more than six weeks ago.
“It definitely made me smile,” the Nationals right-hander said, “to be able to get some spirit back and know that I can go out there and face hitters. That’s what I love to do. That’s what I like: just going out and competing. So it’s a very, very important day and I’m definitely going to enjoy it.”
On the 15-day disabled list since mid-April with a right elbow flexor strain, Gray was cleared to start throwing again on short notice. And he’s been pitching from a bullpen mound for several weeks now.
But the Nationals wanted to wait before taking the next step, wanting to first make sure the 26-year-old was physically fit and had clean throwing mechanics.
“The thing is, we really want to try to keep this as more of a prevention issue,” manager Davey Martinez said. “We don’t want him to get hurt again. So we wanted to make sure we took our time, that he was on his legs, that everything was okay. And then we can build from there.”
That slow and steady process wasn’t the easiest thing for Gray to accept. When he learned that his injury was not as serious as initially expected, he envisioned a shorter rehabilitation program than this. But along the way, he came to understand why the team was taking this approach.
“I think there were definitely some frustrating days, but that’s part of being in a rehab environment,” he said. “You just have to appreciate each day as if it were a step forward. Obviously, today was a big step forward and (now) we’re looking forward to the next one.”
Gray took the mound at Nationals Park shortly after 1 p.m., having thrown 27 warm-up pitches in the dugout. He faced a pair of teammates, infielder Nasim Nunez and catcher Riley Adams, who took turns hitting over the course of his 23-pitch “inning.”
Gray focused on his fastball and was pleased with his command of that pitch. He also said he had an idea of his changeup, but less of his multiple breaking balls. Most importantly, he said he felt healthy both before and after the session.
Next up: Gray will throw another simulated game in five days, this time racking up up to two innings of work. If that goes well, the Nationals could decide he’s ready to go on an official minor league rehab assignment and pitch for one of the club’s affiliates.
* Cade Cavalli made his second rehab start this morning in West Palm Beach, beating a group of Nationals minor leaguers with four innings and eight strikeouts on just 47 pitches.
Cavalli, in the final stages of recovery from Tommy John surgery in March 2023, averaged 95 mph with his fastball, according to Martinez.
The Nationals have not yet decided whether Cavalli will remain in West Palm Beach to pitch in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, or whether he will now move up to one of the organization’s affiliates.
“It could be pretty soon if everything stays the way it is,” Martinez said. “But the good news is that he feels good and is progressing well. He has used all of his pitches well. His mistakes were very clean. And when he failed, he usually went up, which sometimes he wants. So it was good.”
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