Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez, general manager Mike Rizzo and Juan Soto leaned against the turtle cage set up for batting practice, watching as Joe Ross wound up and fired home.
Back on the mound at Nationals Park for a simulated game Friday, Ross continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery in July 2017.
Martinez, in his first year leading Washington, has seen Ross at his best when Ross faced Martinez’s old team, the Chicago Cubs. He heard how tough his sliders and two-seam fastballs are to pick up for batters, because his old hitters told him.
So, Martinez walked over to the 25-year-old right-hander with a smile on his face once Ross completed his 25-pitch simulated game, one step closer to a return.
“I was tickled to see him throw as well as he threw, really,” Martinez said. “He’s got that Ross family slider, is what I call it, that was really good. So, that’s very encouraging.”
Stephen Strasburg also threw a simulated game and catcher Matt Wieters hit. Both are nearing returns to the Nationals. Ross, though, has a longer timetable to recover from his full-thickness tear of his right ulnar collateral ligament.
He targets a September call-up once rosters expand and is willing to pitch in any capacity. Before his injury, Ross started 13 games in 2017 and compiled a 5.01 ERA. He won seven games in 2016 with a career-low 3.43 ERA.
“I’m excited just to face batters again. It’s a big difference between that and a bullpen, kind of get that extra competitiveness going,” Ross said. “I would obviously like to start, but, you know, we have a pretty good staff and wherever I can fit in, especially September hopefully with the expanded roster. As long as I can hopefully get out there and just throw some innings, I’ll be happy. That’s really what I’m working towards.”
During Strasburg’s simulated game, he hurled an off-speed pitch to Pedro Severino, who laid off and let out a big sigh as it dropped into the zone. Wieters later watched a curveball from Strasburg fall in, and he stepped out and flipped his bat from one hand to the other.
Strasburg, who was placed on the disabled list in June with shoulder inflammation, looked close to a return.
“Stephen looks really good. We’ll see how he feels but he might be ready to go out on a rehab assignment possibly Tuesday,” Martinez said. “We’ll see how he feels then and maybe one more. But very encouraging, he looked real good.”
Wieters did barrel up a ball from Strasburg and rocketed it into right field. He jogged toward first, as he did as he made contact other times, testing out a hamstring that has held him out of action since May.
Martinez said Wieters could play for Washington’s Double-A affiliate Harrisburg on Saturday, while Ryan Zimmerman, who is on the disabled list with a back injury, could have a rehab assignment next week.
Before his simulated game, Ross knew he would need to keep his excitement in check. Back in the clubhouse Friday after throwing to Severino and Wieters, Ross realized he hadn’t succeeded in that regard but was encouraged to be back at Nationals Park.
“I felt like I did not taper back like I said I should,” Ross said. “Just rushing a little my mechanics, but other than that, I felt pretty good. Ball was coming out well, off-speed felt pretty good for my second time facing batters, so can’t really complain.”
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