Glover shut down with right forearm strain

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Nats right-hander Koda Glover has a strained right forearm, an MRI revealed, which forced Glover to leave his first Grapefruit League outing prematurely on Sunday, the latest in a long line of setbacks for the talented young reliever.

Considering Glover’s extended injury history, the Nationals have decided to shut him down from baseball activities for now, although he still is optimistic he can start the season on time.

“It’s just one of those things where we think maybe [there's] some weakness in there or some fatigue,” Glover said Tuesday morning. “But I’ll be fine. I’m really not that worried about it at all.”

How quickly Glover can get back on the mound remains to be seen, however, because this is starting to become a familiar tune with the 25-year old reliever who skyrocketed through the team’s system with his hard fastball and slider and fiery personality. His Major League career has been defined by the frequent setbacks and injuries preventing him from reaching what the Nats believe is his full potential.

Last spring, he battled shoulder inflammation at the start of camp and did not pitch in the Majors until August. Glover missed most of 2017 with what the team initially said was a back injury that led to rotator cuff tendinitis. In '16, he tore the labrum in his hip.

This year, he began camp raving about how strongly he felt after some offseason adjustments to his workout routine. His arm felt good until he took the mound for the fifth inning Sunday and induced a flyout from Francisco Pena. Then, Glover said he threw a changeup that went wrong. He walked three consecutive batters and his elbow got more stiff as the inning continued.

“Y’all seen how the game went: I had no command. Velo was down. And the stiffness was there,” Glover said. “That’s a clear indication that we needed to shut it down and re-evaluate things. But as far as how I’m feeling today, actually I feel pretty good for the most part.”

Forearm injuries can be precursors to damage to the ulnar collateral ligament, but Glover, who had Tommy John surgery in junior college, said the MRI showed his UCL was fine. Glover is a strong favorite to claim one of the final spots in Washington's bullpen, and the Nationals see him as a future closer thanks to his stuff and makeup. But for now, the team wants him to focus on strengthening his arm with the hopes of returning to the mound again this season.

“The biggest thing is just you got to get yourself right again,” manager Dave Martinez said. “The good thing is, he's in good shape. So hopefully this is just a minor setback for him and we're able to nip it in the bud, get back on the field and get him to pitch again.”

Sanchez makes Nats debut

For a pitcher like Anibal Sanchez, who relies on a vast arsenal of pitches to retire opposing hitters, Spring Training games are a time to hone in his control.

The veteran righty enjoyed a smooth return to Grapefruit League action in his 2019 debut Tuesday afternoon against the Cardinals. In his first spring tuneup and first outing with the Nationals, Sanchez needed 24 pitches to get through a pair of scoreless innings, issuing a walk and collecting a strikeout.

“I think command for me is my key,” he said. “As soon as I get really good command, I can pitch well. I had one walk today, but I tried to keep my ball in the corners and down to hit the target that I want.”

Up next

An illness prevented first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from playing Tuesday, but he's expected to make his Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday when the Nationals face the Astros at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The veteran first baseman is the final Nats' starting position player to make his spring debut and he will do so behind Jeremy Hellickson, who takes the mound for the first time this spring against Astros left-hander Wade Miley. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m. ET.