Cole

Henry

It looks like the Nationals were setting things up for Cole Henry to get the save chance today, though he went unused in the bottom of the ninth after the team upped its lead from four runs to six runs in the top of the inning. It’s just a tiny bit of a surprise, as it looked like Beeter might have the edge over Henry at the end of the spring. Still, this is situation that figures to continue evolving over the course of the season, and because the Nationals still figure to be pretty bad, neither Beeter nor Henry seems like a must-roster guy right now.

Teams typically use their better relievers early in games in spring training, but it seemed like manager Blake Butera wanted Beeter to have the chance to close this one out. It didn’t happen — the Nationals were shut out — but it’s the thought that counts. Beeter and Cole Henry, who worked a scoreless second today, seem like the favorite for saves in D.C. There probably won’t be a bunch to go around, though.

Henry wraps up his first season as a full-time reliever with a serviceable 4.27 ERA and 52/32 K/BB ratio across 52 2/3 innings over 57 appearances. He also notched a pair of saves. The 26-year-old right-hander, who was a second-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, should be a full-go for spring training.

Ferrer set up for Cole Henry on Saturday, but that was largely because the top of the order was due up in the eighth. The Nationals didn’t think they were going to have a save chance today, but they exploded for five runs in the ninth, giving Ferrer a chance. Since he has pitched on back-to-back days, he could be held out on Monday, making Henry the favorite for a save chance then.

Jose A. Ferrer, the Nationals’ typical closer, was given the eighth against the top of the order today and retired Carlos Santana (pinch-hitting for Michael Busch), Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki in order. Henry had more favorable matchups in the ninth, especially since Pete Crow-Armstrong had left due to injury. He gave up a one-out single to Nick Hoerner, but he retired the other three guys he faced. Ferrer is still the pitcher worth rostering in the Nationals pen.

The Nats opted to use Jose A. Ferrer against the heart of the lineup in the eighth tonight, leaving Henry to face the bottom of the order in the ninth. Henry did give up a leadoff single to Max Kepler in the one-run game, but he retired three in a row afterwards for the save. He’ll probably continue to set up for Ferrer most of the time.

Henry augments Washington’s long relief depth entering Sunday’s game against the Marlins. The 25-year-old former second-round pick will be making his big-league debut when he gets into a game.

A second-round pick from the 2020 MLB Draft, Henry has yet to reach the big leagues. The 25-year-old missed most of last year with a shoulder injury.

Henry had thoracic outlet surgery in 2022 and missed most of last year with a lat strain, so he’s totaled just 128 minor league innings since being drafted. He’ll probably open up in Double-A this year.

With Adon has been in the Nationals’ rotation before, it’s Herz and Henry that are the two big names here. Herz came over from the Cubs in the Jeimer Candelario trade and was tremendous for the Nationals in Double-A and then also in the AFL. Meanwhile, Henry is a former first-round pick who is coming off of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery. Both have looked good this spring and have a chance to crack the Nationals’ rotation over the summer.