Glover returned healthy, but can he now be effective?

As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Koda Glover, who after a long rehab from a shoulder injury returned during the second half and had an eventful few months.

PLAYER REVIEW: KODA GLOVER

Age on opening day 2019: 25

How acquired: Eighth-round pick, 2015 draft

MLB service time: 2 years, 51 days

2018 salary: $551,700

Contract status: Under club control in 2019, arbitration-eligible in 2020, free agent in 2023

2018 stats: 1-3, 3.31 ERA, 21 G, 1 SV, 16 1/3 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 HR, 10 BB, 9 SO, 0 HBP, 1.408 WHIP, 0.0 fWAR, 0.4 bWAR

Quotable: "I've learned a lot about myself, mainly that I'm mortal. ... When you're young and stuff, you don't think you're ever going to get hurt and that you're going to play for a hundred years. Once reality smacks you in the mouth, you understand that's not the case. You actually have to do the little things to keep yourself on the field." - Glover

2018 analysis: As much as they wanted him to be part of their bullpen from the get-go, the Nationals knew Glover was still trying to make it back from a significant shoulder injury (torn rotator cuff). And when he reported more shoulder injuries early in spring training, the club knew it could be a while before it could count on the right-hander contributing.

It took until early August, but Glover finally made his season debut in the Nats bullpen. And it was an eventful return. Trades and injuries had created a big void in the back end of the 'pen, so the 25-year-old was thrown right to the wolves. He came through in two large spots against the Cubs, then served up a walk-off homer to the Cardinals, then came back with a big save, then endured a 10th-inning meltdown against the Marlins. All of this occurred in his first week off the disabled list.

Slowly but surely, Glover settled into a groove. He didn't get more save opportunities, but he did get a chance to pitch in the seventh and eighth innings of close games. And he got better as the season progressed. Over his final 14 appearances, he posted a 1.74 ERA and 1.065 WHIP.

Most importantly, Glover made it through the season's final two months without any apparent arm troubles. Given how much time he spent rehabbing just to make it back, this might have been a more significant development than anything he actually did on the mound this year.

2019 outlook: The Nationals will continue to be intrigued by Glover's arm and makeup. Everything about him screams late-inning reliever. But he remains tremendously unproven, and he remains an injury risk until he proves he can make it through an entire big league season in one piece.

One other surprising concern about Glover: He doesn't strike guys out. In spite of his upper-90s fastball and low-90s slider, he has only 42 strikeouts in 55 1/3 career major league innings. And his strikeout rate this season (five per nine innings) is remarkably low for a power reliever.

That's not to suggest Glover can't be successful. It does emphasize, however, how important command is to his success. He has to hit his spot and induce weak contact. And he has to keep the ball in the strike zone. That he walked 10 in only 16 1/3 innings this season is a red flag, and Glover must improve in that regard if he's going to make it long-term in this bullpen.