The Washington Nationals have placed LHP DJ Herz on the 15-day injured list with a left UCL sprain, an injury that could potentially compromise his season.
Herz, 24, was battling for the fifth spot in the Nats’ rotation this spring, but was 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA in four games (three starts) before being optioned to Triple-A Rochester last week.
However, WaPo’s Andrew Golden Tweeted Tuesday that Herz, whose velocity was down this spring, had experienced ‘dead arm’ fatigue during camp, a possible indicator of an issue – and a UCL sprain is often a precursor to Tommy John surgery, or at least the internal brace procedure, either of which would wipe out Herz’s 2025 campaign, and perhaps some of 2026 as well.
The southpaw, who was acquired from the Cubs in July 2023 for Jeimer Candelario, made his MLB debut last June and ended up making 19 starts, going 4-9 with a 4.16 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings.
Washington already has both Josiah Gray and Cade Cavalli working their way back from Tommy John, but still has some rotation depth beyond their penciled in five. Japanese lefty Shinnosuke Ogasawara will start his American journey at Triple-A Rochester, while Jackson Rutledge, who moved from a starting role to the bullpen this spring, could also stretch back out.