Injuries & Moves: Updates on Cavalli, Senzel, Gray and Robles
LATEST NEWS
April 26: RHP Cade Cavalli joins team in Miami
Cavalli, who is continuing his rehab from Tommy John surgery in West Palm Beach, Fla., made the trip down to Miami for some face time with the club. Nearly a year ago, Cavalli did the same thing, but under very different circumstances. At the time, he was weeks into his recovery from the surgery; this time, he's weeks away from a return to game action.
Per Cavalli (and confirmed by manager Dave Martinez), the righty is approximately a month and a half away from a full return to play. He will face live hitters for the first time in his rehab on Monday -- throwing only heaters -- and then slowly begin sprinkling in his other pitches with each live BP he throws. Cavalli and the Nats are aiming for mid-May for his rehab assignment, and then he will likely spend around a month building up in the Minors.
"The ball is coming out the same as it was prior to the injury," Cavalli said. "And so I'm feeling normal in that way, and then, you know, it's just -- coming back from surgery, your body's going to hurt a little bit more than when it did prior.
"It feels so good seeing these guys again, and I've just really enjoyed sitting at home watching them compete. I've just been sitting on the couch dying to get back with them and get rolling with them."
April 26: 3B Nick Senzel (stomach illness) available off the bench vs. Miami
Senzel traveled with the team to Miami and completed baseball activities pregame to get back into a rhythm prior to Friday's series opener. He was also available off the bench, per manager Dave Martinez. Senzel was replaced in the starting lineup by utility player Ildemaro Vargas an hour before Thursday’s game. Senzel had returned from missing 15 games because of a fractured left thumb on April 15.
10-day/15-day injured list
RHP Josiah Gray (right elbow/forearm flexor strain)
Expected return: May
Gray threw from 90 feet on April 25, the latest step in his progression, and the Nationals hope he will be able to throw off the mound during their road series in Texas from April 30 to May 2. The right-hander was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 6, after an MRI revealed a right elbow/forearm flexor strain before his scheduled April 9 start against the Giants. He is 0-2 with a 14.04 ERA in two starts this season. (Last updated: April 26)
OF Victor Robles (left hamstring strain)
Expected Return: May
Robles is sprinting at 90%, running the bases and doing defensive work while traveling with the team as he continues to rehab from his left hamstring strain (sustained on April 3). The Nationals are hopeful that Robles will be ready to begin a rehab assignment in the next week.
Robles had returned to full health in Spring Training after back spasms limited him to just 36 games last season. He was poised for a bounce-back season before this latest setback. (Last updated: April 26)
LHP Robert Garcia (influenza)
Expected return: May
Garcia was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 23, retroactive to April 21. The Nationals are considering having him throw a sim game on the road trip to Miami and Texas from April 26 to May 2. He is 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA in 8 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. (Last updated: April 25)
RF Lane Thomas (left MCL sprain)
Expected return: May
Thomas was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 24, the day after he avoided a tag while stealing second base vs. the Dodgers. Thomas has been the Nationals' starting right fielder, and he was batting .184 with 11 stolen bases this season. (Last updated: April 24)
OF Stone Garrett (fractured left fibula)
Expected return: First half of season
Garrett has progressed to a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester. He suffered a fractured left fibula last August after crashing into the right-field wall at Yankee Stadium. (Last updated: April 24)
60-day IL
RHP Cade Cavalli (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Mid-2024
Cavalli will face live hitters for the first time in his rehab on April 29, the next step in his progression. The righty and the Nationals are eyeing mid-May for the start of his rehab assignment. While with the team in Miami on April 26, Cavalli said he feels "normal" and that the ball is coming out of his hand the same as prior to his injury. He's hopeful that he will be back in Major League action within the next two months. (Last updated: April 26)
LHP Jose A. Ferrer (teres major strain)
Expected return: First half of season
Ferrer continues his strength and conditioning and is doing plyometrics and towel drills to emulate his throwing. He was shut down from throwing for four to six weeks during Spring Training after experiencing discomfort while extending his throwing arm and was placed on the 60-day IL on March 24. (Last updated: April 19)
RHP Mason Thompson (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Thompson, 26, underwent his second Tommy John surgery on March 1 after previously undergoing the procedure in high school. He was placed on the 60-day IL on March 24. (Last updated: March 24)