Josiah

Gray

Back after missing nearly three full seasons, Gray earned the first save of his career here in this win over the Mets. His stuff was crisp as he forced four whiffs in just one inning of work and funny enough, he only threw one fastball out of 18 total pitches with the rest being various breaking balls. Above all else, it’s great to see Gray back on the mound.

Gray is back on the Nationals’ active roster for the first time since injuring his elbow a week into the 2024 season. He wound up having Tommy John that year, and he had a setback this spring with a torn flexor tendon. Since beginning a rehab assignment a month ago, he’d allowed four earned runs with an 8/4 K/BB in 12 innings over 11 appearances. He’ll obviously finish out this season as a reliever, but he could compete for a rotation spot next spring.

Gray has been working back from Tommy John surgery and then a subsequent flexor strain. He has not pitched in an MLB game since throwing just 8 1/3 innings in 2024. The right-hander threw 80 percent strikes with a 20 percent swinging strike rate in his one inning, but it was just 10 pitches. He sat 90.2 mph on his four-seamer and only threw one of them, so that will be something to monitor as he lengthens out his appearances.

Gray threw 15 pitches in his first game action since last September. He entered the contest out of the bullpen in the fifth inning. The 28-year-old righty was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball roughly a half-decade ago before injuries derailed his promising career.

This is great news for Gray who hasn’t pitched in a game since September of last season following a litany of arm injuries. Most recently, it was a flexor strain that cropped up in spring training. Once a top prospect who was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers, Gray hasn’t pitched in a major league game since April, 2024.

Gray hit the injured list at the end of spring training with a right flexor strain and hasn’t been cleared to resume throwing. The 28-year-old’s promising career has been derailed by injuries the last few years. There should be some clarity on his status at some point in the near future.

Gray was set to open the year back at Triple-A Rochester working his way towards a return to Washington’s rotation for the first time since April, 2024. The 28-year-old right-hander’s once-promising career has been derailed by injuries the past couple seasons after making 58 starts for the Nationals from 2022-2023. He was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball roughly a half-decade ago before being shipped from the Dodgers as part of the Trea Turner and Max Scherzer trade back in 2021.

Gray will get a chance to ramp up in the minors after missing all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery. Hassell being optioned down is likely good news for Joey Wiemer’s chances of winning a bench spot.

Gray surrendered a hit and a walk with two strikeouts. It’s his second spring start of the season for the 28-year-old, and was in the low 90s with his four-seam heater. Gray seems like to be a part of the rotation for the Nationals to open 2026, but there’s not enough upside to suggest he’s worthy of rostering to start the campaign.

Gray was able to whiff three in his spring debut while allowing two hits and no walks. The right-hander missed all of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he’s one of the few Washington hurlers who offers some potential intrigue. Fantasy managers probably shouldn’t take the risk just yet, but he’s certainly worth monitoring.