Sunday, March 15

Welcome to the latest edition of the Nationals Beat newsletter. This is your stop for the latest on and off the field, from news to exclusive player interviews and insights, brought to you by MLB.com club reporter Jessica Camerato.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A roar of cheers erupted from the Nationals batting cages on Friday afternoon when DJ Herz achieved a momentous milestone: he threw off the mound for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last April. MLB.com caught up with the 25-year-old southpaw to recount the significance of the day and what the unwavering support of his team meant to him. 

What were the emotions when you walked out of the clubhouse knowing what you were about to do?

“There were a lot of fun emotions because when we were doing the team meeting, [manager] Blake [Butera] let everybody know. He was like, 'If you've been through the rehab process, you know it's long and you’ve got to have a lot of patience.' And he kind of shouted me out, saying I was getting on the mound. So that, first, started off the day with very happy emotions. It was just a good feeling. 

“Then just getting ready to throw, it was fun. I had the little adrenaline coming back, and I was like, ‘Wow, this is what it feels like again.’ 

“Getting into the cages and seeing all the teammates and coaches and front office there, it was awesome. And that was probably the best feeling I had -- more so than actually completing my first milestone of getting off the mound, it was seeing all the guys come and support me. That was probably the happiest of the moments that I'll probably remember.

“Throwing a really good bullpen for the first time, it was awesome. A lot of strikes. If I did throw a ball, it wasn't repeated. I made the adjustments right then and there to get it back in the zone. Everything felt free, felt loose. It couldn't have been a better day.”

Butera said one thing that stood out to him was that your pitches were really sharp, and he also credited the pitching and rehab staff for that. What did you see from your sharpness?

 “For me, I feel like it’s the snap at the very end of the pitch, at least for my fastball. I know I have a really good fastball, and that's kind of what makes me a good pitcher where I’m at. That's kind of how I knew something was up last Spring Training, when I didn't have that snap. My brain subconsciously wouldn't let me put that little extra oomph into it. Now, I can finally get it back and it has that snap, it has that ride.

“I remember in 2024, they called my fastball ‘The Kraken’ because it cracks, and it’s always stuck. [Assistant pitching coach Sean] Doolittle and the staff were joking, 'The Krak is back!' It just put big smiles on my face. Everybody with the rehab staff, the whole training staff, and [pitching coach] Simon [Mathews], they’ve all been great.

“The main focus was, be athletic with your throws and just play catch. I played basketball and football … all those types of athletic movements have ultimately helped me not really think too much about pitching and just doing.” 

I heard a loud ovation when you were done, and then it looked like you tipped your cap. 

“I didn't know what to do. (Laughs) I was going to just put my hands up, like, 'Let’s go.' And then I tipped my cap to everybody that watched.” 

From a friendship standpoint, what does that mean to have all your guys behind you?

“It meant a lot. With rehab, it can sometimes feel like you're almost, not really forgotten, but you're just like, ‘Dang, I want to be here with the guys, do all the cool stuff that they're doing.’ Then you’ve just got to make sure that you do your stuff, day in and day out. It’s the same, same, same. It’s almost like Groundhog Day. But it was just cool that everybody came to support me. It was a great moment, and after I finished, it put the biggest smile on my face when they were all clapping.”

When you went home and processed everything, what stuck out to you from the day?

“I felt, honestly, a lot of pressure going into that just with everybody watching my first one. It was good pressure, like, the adrenaline pressure. Coming off the brace, [I threw my first throw] straight into the ground. First time off the mound, full go, I was like, ‘I hope this goes pretty close and not haywire.’ The first throw was right there, and then I think we ended up throwing 11 out of 15 strikes. It was awesome to see all the command and everything was there. I was able to adjust quickly, and it was just all good results.”

Who caught your first throwing session and why? 

"Gonzo (bullpen catcher Jarrett Gonzales). We have a good relationship on and off the field, it started in Triple-A. He’s always got great energy, always can make me laugh. For the first one when you want to feel something good and you don't want to put too much thought into it, he's a good guy."

What did you do last night to let yourself enjoy the accomplishment?

"We were going to go to a steakhouse, but it was Friday night and it was already packed. Me and my girlfriend, we got pizza and just enjoyed it. And then I watched a little bit of video because it was the first time I’ve got to watch video. It was fun. It was good to relive the moment."

Left-handers Mitchell Parker and Andrew Alvarez, who entered camp contending for a starting rotation spot, were among those optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Friday. 

Alvarez debuted last September and made five starts, whereas Parker had been in the Nationals starting rotation since April 2024 until he moved to the bullpen for his last three appearances of '25. 

Manager Blake Butera emphasized the team views both southpaws as contributors on the big league level this season. 

“We want to make sure they know, the expectations for them are super high,” Butera said. “Don’t just go down there and go through the motions and pitch in Triple-A; go dominate and show that they need to be back up here. That’s what we want from all of our guys that aren’t necessarily breaking with our team.”

Click here to read more. 

Nationals' clubhouse and fan favorite Paolo Espino retired this week from a 20-year career in professional baseball. He made his final appearance pitching for Team Panama in the World Baseball Classic. Espino, 39, is one of only three players to play in this year’s WBC and the inaugural tournament in 2006. 

During his two-decade career, Espino pitched for the Nationals from 2020-23. I spoke to his former teammates to learn more about his lasting impact. Read the full article here. 

Be sure to take advantage of this week's Spring Training promotions at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches:

• Tuesday: Hero Days and St. Patrick’s Day

• Wednesday: Baseball Card Day

• Saturday: Nationals 20th Anniversary Ring Giveaway and Spring Sendoff

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