Josiah Gray activated off IL, set for 1st MLB appearance since April 2024

Three seasons since he last pitched in a Major League game, Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray was reinstated from the injured list on Thursday.

Gray, the Nationals 2024 Opening Day starter, will throw out of the bullpen for the remainder of this season.

The 28-year-old has not pitched in a big league game since April 4, 2024. He sustained a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and underwent surgery in July of that season. Gray went on a rehab assignment at the end of last season, and he was progressing toward his return to the Nationals during Spring Training. However, he suffered a right flexor strain in mid-March.

Eyeing a comeback this season, Gray began pitching in relief in the Minors during his rehab. That way, he didn’t have to get built up all the way as a starter. His goal is to return to the starting rotation next season.

Gray will join the Nationals for their road trip in St. Louis this weekend. Outfielder Andrew Pinckney was optioned to Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move.

The Nationals have nine games left on the schedule. Starting pitchers Connelly Early and DJ Herz are also eyeing returns from the IL before the end of the season. The Nats will have to make decisions on the expanded 28-man roster in the final week.

“It’s a good problem to have at the end of the day,” manager Blake Butera said pregame on Wednesday. “We're getting some guys healthy, some guys that you guys want to see and hear about and talk about, of course, and I think we're all excited for that.

“But we're also trying to be as responsible as possible knowing that our season ends 10 games from now, and understanding what makes most sense in terms of who needs to get up here, who would we like to get up here -- you're balancing the needs versus the wants. Then you're also balancing, making sure the guys in the clubhouse aren’t like, 'Is he coming to take my spot?' So I want to be really conscious about these guys in the clubhouse.”