These 3 pitchers could show out in Spring Breakout

JUPITER, Fla. -- With two weeks remaining in Spring Training, the Nationals made their first round of roster moves on Monday. Among the seven players sent down were five pitchers, as the need to get stretched out for the regular season nears.

Washington optioned right-handers Joan Adon, Cole Henry (No. 25 prospect), Thaddeus Ward and Amos Willingham; left-handers DJ Herz (No. 12) and Mitchell Parker (No. 22); and infielder/outfielder Jake Alu to Triple-A Rochester. Outfielder Travis Blankenhorn, who is not on the 40-man roster, was reassigned to Minor League camp.

“Really wanted to see some young guys pitch up here, and for the most part, I saw some really good things,” manager Dave Martinez said before the Nationals’ 11-4 win over the Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. “But it's time to get these guys stretched out and get them on a regular routine. Some of these guys are going to start, so we’ve got to build them up.”

Let’s take a look at the pitching prospects, all of whom are on the Nationals’ roster for Spring Breakout on Friday.

“They’ve got a really good mix of pitches, they really do,” said Martinez. “They attack the strike zone. There was no fear in them.”

DJ Herz
Spring Training: Three games (all relief), 0-0, 2.25 ERA, four innings
2023 (Double-A, Cubs and Nats affiliates): 22 games (all starts), 3-3, 3.43 ERA, 94 1/3 innings
MLB Pipeline scouting grades: fastball, 55; curveball, 45; slider, 50; changeup, 70; control, 40; overall, 45

Herz participated in his first Spring Training with the Nats after being acquired from the Cubs in the Jeimer Candelario deal last July. This, a few months after pitching to a 3.71 ERA across five starts in the Arizona Fall League and earning Fall Stars honors.

“We talked a little bit about controlling his emotions, controlling the strike zone and just going down here and knocking the door down,” Martinez said. “His stuff was really good, but he's got to understand who he is and what he wants to do. We talked a lot about preparation -- continue to do the little things off the field as well as on the field.”

Cole Henry
Spring Training: Three games (all relief), 0-1, 7.71 ERA, 4 2/3 innings
2023 (Single-A, High-A, Double-A): 14 games (10 starts), 0-3, 6.21 ERA, 33 1/3 innings
MLB Pipeline scouting grades: fastball, 55; slider, 55; changeup, 55; control, 50; overall, 40

Henry was added to the 40-man roster in November after returning last May from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. The team is mindful of Henry’s health, and they were encouraged by his outings.

“I was so happy with Cole Henry because of where he's at and the fact of the way that he’s throwing the baseball,” Martinez said. “It means a lot to us and it means a lot to him to see him healthy and competing on the field. We’ve got to get him in a routine and get him going.”

Henry’s role with Triple-A Rochester will be determined, and it could change throughout the season.

“We’re going to build him up to possibly start, we'll see how it works out,” Martinez said. “We’re probably going to limit him this year a little bit. So we’ll see where he's at. The hope is to get him going, and then we'll see what our needs are because he possibly could help us down the road.”

Mitchell Parker
Spring Training: Four games (all relief), 0-0, 0.00 ERA, six innings
2023 (Double-A, Triple-A): 28 games (26 starts), 9-7, 4.72 ERA, 124 innings
MLB Pipeline scouting grades: fastball, 55; curveball, 55; slider, 50; changeup, 45; control, 45; overall, 40

After leading the Nationals’ Minor League system in strikeouts (150) last season, Parker was added to the 40-man roster in November and protected from the Rule 5 Draft. He will begin the year in Rochester, where he pitched his final three games of 2023.

“He just gets the ball, and here we go: [He] throws strikes, knows what he wants to do, always around the strike zone,” Martinez said, adding, “[We want him to] continue to be aggressive in the strike zones -- his breaking ball is good, his changeup was really good -- and understanding what he wants to do with hitters, right versus left.”