Injuries & Moves: Weems to IL; Salazar recalled
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July 26: RHP Jordan Weems placed on 15-day IL; RHP Eduardo Salazar recalled from Triple-A
Weems was sidelined by right shin splints, retroactive to Thursday. The reliever said he has been experiencing the discomfort since last season, and he did not want to aggravate it further. In 40 games this season, Weems posted a 6.59 ERA across 41 innings.
“It just kind of continued to get worse and worse,” Weems said, adding, “I just feel like I’m one-dimensional right now. I got to get back to being who I am, and that’s a three-dimensional -- two-dimensional, at least -- pitcher and keep them off balance.”
The Nationals called up Salazar for the second time this season. He appeared in one game with the Nats on July 14, pitching two scoreless innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
July 24: RHP Josiah Gray thanks fans following elbow surgery
Gray underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington to address a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament on Wednesday.
On Friday, he posted a thank you to Nationals fans on his social media platforms.
10-day/15-day injured list
1B Joey Gallo (left hamstring strain)
Expected return: Second half of season
Gallo took ground balls on July 19 and is “progressing well,” according to manager Dave Martinez. The next step would be running the bases. Gallo was placed on the IL on June 12. (Last updated: July 19)
RHP Trevor Williams (right flexor muscle strain)
Expected return: Second half of season
Williams is playing catch up to 75 feet on flat ground. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 4, retroactive to June 1. (Last updated: July 19)
OF Robert Hassell III (right hand injury; No. 9 on Nationals Top 30 Prospects list)
Expected return: Second half of season
Hassell is rehabbing at the Nationals’ training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., from an injury affecting his right wrist/hand/thumb area. He broke his right hamate bone while playing in the 2022 Arizona Fall League.
"That area hasn't been right since the surgery, so we're going to get him right,” general manager Mike Rizzo said.
Hassell was placed on the 7-day injured list by the Double-A Harrisburg Senators on June 12. (Last updated: July 19)
1B/3B, Yohandy Morales (left thumb injury; No. 4 on Nationals Top 30 Prospects list)
Expected return: TBD
The infield prospect was placed on the 7-day injured list due to a thumb injury on May 21, retroactive to May 20. He was removed from Double-A Harrisburg's game on May 18 after being tagged out while sliding head first into home plate.
As of June 26, he was back to throwing and running, and the Nationals planned to reevaluate him in a few weeks. If all goes well, a hitting progression would begin soon after that reevaluation. (Last updated: June 26)
60-day IL
RHP Josiah Gray (right elbow/forearm flexor strain)
Expected return: 2025
Gray underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure on July 24 to address a partially torn UCL. The procedure was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington. Gray was placed on the IL on April 9, retroactive to April 6, and he was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 5 to clear space on the 40-man roster. (Last updated: July 24)
RHP Cade Cavalli (Tommy John surgery; No. 5 on Nationals Top 30 Prospects list)
Expected return: Second half of season
Cavalli is expected to return to the Nationals’ training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., this month to get ramped back up in his rehab process. He has not made a rehab start since June 21 because he experienced “dead arm” and then came down with the flu. Cavalli underwent Tommy John surgery on March 22, 2023. (Last updated: July 20)
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)