WASHINGTON -- After a Spring Training setback, righty reliever Paxton Schultz is back with the Nationals and ready to “do whatever the team needs.”
In Tuesday night’s 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Cardinals, that included briefly being in line for a potential first MLB win in his club debut.
After Washington returned Schultz (right elbow inflammation) from his rehab assignment Tuesday and reinstated him from the 15-day injured list, Schultz pitched a scoreless -- if not exactly crisp -- inning of relief. He departed with two outs in the top of the sixth and the Nats in front 4-2, a lead they even added to in the bottom half of the inning before eventually succumbing in 10 to the Cardinals.
The Nationals claimed Schultz off waivers from Toronto on Jan. 9. He made 13 appearances (two starts) for the Blue Jays in his rookie season in 2025, posting a 4.38 ERA in 24 2/3 innings.
“I set off to have a big goal to make the Opening Day roster, that was the first thing I wanted to do once coming over here with the Nationals,” the 28-year-old said. “But I don’t know, I’m a big believer everything happens for a reason. And I’m glad it was nothing serious and just a minor thing that came up. And once that [was clear, the] mindset shifted to just making sure I’m all the way healthy and making sure I can help the team the best that I can.”
In a corresponding move, the Nats optioned righty Andre Granillo to Triple-A Rochester.
Schultz comes to Washington after allowing one earned run in 3 2/3 innings in three rehab outings with Rochester. He had also thrown some Minor League spring games after he was shut down for about six days.
“I was able to get a few innings before the injury happened, then shut down a little bit, and then I threw a few kind of back-field games in Florida that probably won’t go on the record,” he said before Tuesday's game. “But I got it built up a little bit, met the [Triple-A] team in Jacksonville, threw there and then threw a couple times in Rochester. So I feel like the workload is in a good place and I’ll be ready to go tonight.”
Schultz joins a bullpen that may still need some reinforcements after struggling to an NL-worst 6.39 ERA in its first 11 games.
“We are under the sense that he is full-go,” Nats manager Blake Butera said. “That’s why he’s here. We wouldn’t have brought him here if he wasn’t.”
In his first big league season, Schultz went at least two innings six times, and he suspects his role in Washington could be similar.
“Especially in the beginning, maybe not super long,” he said. “But in the past I’ve been able to go long relief, I’ve had some starts. I’ve let them know on my end I’m able to do whatever the team needs me to help win.”