DJ

Herz

Butera added that Herz will be pulled off a minor league rehab assignment and shut down for a couple weeks after experiencing forearm tightness. It’s never an encouraging sign to see a pitcher experiencing forearm issues coming off Tommy John surgery, so the Nationals are likely to send him for precautionary imaging to rule out any structural issues. There should be additional clarity on his status in the near future.

This was Herz’s first rehab start outside of the complex league, and it went pretty well. The left-hander also struck out three and didn’t walk a single batter while throwing 29 of his 38 pitches for strikes. We don’t have Statcast data at Single-A, but seeing that level of command is nice for Herz coming off Tommy John surgery. There’s a chance that his next start is at Double-A.

Herz is still recovering from Tommy John surgery from last April. He started his rehab assignment in the FCL earlier this month and could move to Double-A or Triple-A after this start. The 25-year-old had a 4.16 ERA in 88 2/3 innings in 2024 and could make a handful of starts for the Nationals to end the season if all goes well.

Herz figures to get a long buildup after just throwing to live hitters for the first time in mid-May. Depending on how it goes, he could be a factor in the second half of the season. Herz, still just 25, had a 4.16 ERA in 88 2/3 innings pitched in 2024 while striking out 106.

Herz missed all of the 2025 season and is trying to find his way back to the mound late in the 2026 season after undergoing a traditional Tommy John surgery in April 2025. We’ll follow his rehab, but it would be surprising if he came into fantasy relevance in 2026.

Herz, who underwent the procedure last April, could be an option for the Nationals rotation come July. He showed some promise a rookie in 2024, posting a 4.16 ERA and a 106/36 K/BB in 88 2/3 innings. However, given that control is often the last thing to come back after Tommy John and Herz has long history of wildness, he probably won’t be a fantasy factor prior to 2027.

It seems like a virtual lock that Herz would wind up requiring elbow surgery after suffering a UCL sprain during spring training. Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters it was merely a traditional Tommy John surgery that didn’t require an additional internal brace procedure. The 24-year-old lefty will likely be sidelined until the second half of the 2026 campaign.

It’s merely a procedural move as Herz is facing an extended absence after being diagnosed earlier this week with a UCL sprain in his left elbow.

It certainly explains Herz’s diminished velocity throughout spring training. The -year-old southpaw was placed on the injured list earlier this week and is likely facing an extended absence. It’s unclear whether he’ll require surgery or will go the rest and rehabilitation route at this juncture. His absence is a definite hit to Washington’s starting pitching depth, but he was going to open the year back at Triple-A Rochester prior to the injury. He can be safely dropped in all re-draft fantasy formats.

There’s no official designation for the move, so we’re assuming that Herz suffered an injury prior to being optioned last week to Triple-A Rochester. There should be some clarity on his status at some point soon.