Gallo set to begin rehab assignment; Williams, Cavalli throwing

Joey Gallo is finally ready to start playing in games again. Minor league games, to be sure, but games nonetheless.

Gallo, out nearly two months with a strained left hamstring, is set to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Rochester, which could put the big slugger on track to rejoin the Nationals’ major league roster next week.

The 30-year-old is expected to play five innings at first base Tuesday when the Red Wings open a six-game road trip in Buffalo. He’ll then serve as designated hitter Wednesday, then play right field Thursday.

With the Nationals needing outfield help after the trades of Lane Thomas and Jesse Winker, and with Juan Yepez having hit well since taking over at first base last month, Gallo could wind up seeing more time in right field once he returns from the injured list.

“We’ll see how things go,” manager Davey Martinez said. “I love him playing first base; he’s done really well over there. But there will be some times when I might have to put him right field, so I want him to get some reps out there.”

It’s been a frustrating season, to say the least, for Gallo. Signed over the winter for $5 million, he was expected to provide a consistent home run threat while playing strong defense for a Nationals club that sorely needed both. But while his glovework at first base excelled, his bat never got going before suffering his injury. In 46 games, Gallo batted a miniscule .164 with five homers, 11 RBIs and a .606 OPS that is 174 points below his career mark.

In a perfect world, Gallo would have stayed healthy and produced enough to merit interest at the July 30 trade deadline. Instead, he’s now just hoping to come back and finish out the season strong, helping the Nats score a few more runs and reestablish his value before hitting free agency over the winter.

“I want him to come back and be motivated,” Martinez said. “We’ve got 50 games left. And when he comes back, I want him to go out there and perform, and perform well. I know he worked really hard to try to get back. Hamstrings are different for everybody, and he’s a bigger guy. So it took him a little longer than he thought. But I can’t wait to get him back. He gives us another threat for the longball.”

* Trevor Williams is throwing off flat ground up to 125 feet as the right-hander tries to make his way back from a flexor strain in his forearm.

Williams, out since late May, could be ready to start throwing off a mound within the next week. After that, he’ll have to build his arm back up to the point he’s ready to pitch again.

Like Gallo, Williams hoped to enjoy a strong first half and position himself as a strong trade candidate. But while he pitched well for two months, going 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA in 11 starts, he has been out since and couldn’t make it back before the trade deadline.

Williams could still pitch for the Nats before season’s end, whether taking the rotation spot of a young starter on an innings limit or joining the bullpen as a long reliever.

“I just want him to be healthy going into this winter,” Martinez said of the 32-year-old right-hander, another pending free agent. “That’s the biggest thing. If he can pitch for us in September, even if it’s a few innings, then everybody knows that he’s healthy and he can go do his winter program. He’s been working really hard to try to come back. He wants to pitch again this year, and I’m hoping he can do that.”

* Cade Cavalli has resumed throwing after the latest pause in his elongated rehab from Tommy John surgery. Cavalli, who last made a rehab start June 21 for High-A Wilmington, is merely playing catch from 60 feet at this point, but Martinez said he’s experiencing no pain and will now resume the process of building himself back up.