Gray shut down with elbow discomfort, will get new MRI

Josiah Gray is unlikely to pitch again for some time after the right-hander experienced elbow discomfort during his last rehab start, prompting the Nationals to schedule an MRI and a consultation with Dallas specialist Keith Meister during the All-Star break.

Though they don’t yet know the extent of this setback, the Nationals and Gray admittedly are worried about the possibility of a serious injury that requires him to miss considerable time after he already spent nearly three months trying to make it back from a flexor strain in his elbow and forearm.

“I’m a little concerned right now,” manager Davey Martinez said. “We got him ramped up, he looked good. Last outing, the velo wasn’t there. He said he just felt tired. His arm, he felt like he had nothing in there. So we’ll wait and see what happens.”

Gray was making his fifth rehab start of the month Sunday, his previous outing Tuesday for Triple-A Rochester going exceptionally well: six innings of one-run ball on 73 pitches. This latest appearance bore little resemblance to that one, with Gray getting roughed up for seven runs in three innings and his fastball topping out at 91.9 mph.

“Honestly, I felt really good going into it,” the 26-year-old said. “And then in between innings, I didn’t feel like I was recovering well. I just felt a little fatigued. Told the trainers, and we tried to get ahead of it. We’ll see what we’ve got when we get the MRI.”

Gray described the elbow discomfort as “similar” to what he felt when he initially was hurt in early April. He and the team were relieved at the time to learn he was diagnosed only with a flexor strain, a muscular issue as opposed to a structural one. Now they’ll hold their breath and await results of another MRI.

Martinez said that test and subsequent trip to Dallas to meet with Meister won’t take place for two more weeks. He won’t be allowed to throw at all in the interim.

“We want to give him some time,” Martinez said. “We’re just going to shut him down and not push this thing. It’s just part of what they decided to do.”

Gray had never dealt with any kind of arm injuries since debuting in the majors in 2021 with the Dodgers, and he made every scheduled start for the Nationals following his acquisition along with Keibert Ruiz and two others that summer for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner

On the heels of an All-Star campaign in 2023, the Nats gave Gray the Opening Day nod this spring, but he struggled mightily in his first two starts, allowing 13 runs on 15 hits in 8 1/3 innings. He said he first noticed elbow discomfort following his second start, and he landed on the 15-day injured list April 9.

Though the rehab process had been slow, Gray expressed optimism with his progress and seemingly was on the verge of coming off the IL and starting for the Nationals within the next week before this setback.

“It’s definitely tough,” he said. “Because the reality of it all is with the time you put in, the work you put in, you want to bear that fruit. So I guess it’s just taking a step back and appreciating every day. And if there are setbacks, looking at those and try to frame those in a positive manner. That’s what we’re going to try to do here.”

The Nationals have officially recalled Gray from his 30-day rehab assignment until he’s ready to pitch again. They’ve done the same with Cade Cavalli, who is now experiencing his second rehab pause after coming down with the flu last week.

Though Cavalli (who had Tommy John surgery in March 2023) is feeling well again, Martinez said he’ll need to start the process of building his arm back up over again, further delaying his eventual return to a big league mound.

“He’s coming off Tommy John surgery,” Martinez said. “We’re not going to force the issue with him. We’ll get him going again. He’s here. And when he’s ready to throw bullpens again and play catch … we’ll get him out here.”