Healthy again, Ross will be asked to step up next season

As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Joe Ross, who returned in September healthy more than a year removed from Tommy John surgery.

PLAYER REVIEW: JOE ROSS

Age on opening day 2019: 25

How acquired: Traded with Trea Turner from Padres for Steven Souza Jr. and Travis Ott (who were sent to Rays in three-team deal), December 2014

MLB service time: 3 years, 67 days

2018 salary: $567,900

Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2019, free agent in 2022

2018 stats: 0-2, 5.06 ERA, 3 GS, 0 CG, 16 IP, 17 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 3 HR, 4 BB, 7 SO, 2 HBP, 1.313 WHIP, -0.1 fWAR, 0.1 bWAR

Quotable: "I'd say the biggest thing is just being healthy. Feeling good being on the mound is the biggest thing for me. But I've got a lot of stuff to work on." - Ross

2018 analysis: Ross knew all along that his 2018 season was going to be an abbreviated one, at least in terms of actual starts he made in the big leagues. That didn't mean he didn't work hard all spring and summer to make sure he got to make those few big league starts come September.

The right-hander, who had Tommy John surgery on his elbow in July 2017, was targeting a late-season return to the Nationals, and though that return perhaps came a few weeks later than hoped, there were no real setbacks along the way. Finally, on Sept. 7, Ross' moment arrived: He was scheduled to start against the Cubs, more than 14 months removed from his operation.

After waiting out a 1-hour, 21-minute rain delay at Nationals Park, Ross took the mound and came out firing lasers. His fastball registered 95-97 mph, a significant increase from his pre-surgery velocity, and that was tremendously encouraging for the Nats. But then that start came to an abrupt halt after only 24 pitches thrown to seven batters when the heavens opened up again and the game went back into a delay - and eventually was postponed altogether.

By Major League Baseball's official standards, that outing never took place. It doesn't show up on any stat sheet and there's no box score. So technically speaking, Ross' 2018 debut came the following week, when he again faced the Cubs and allowed two runs over five innings. He made two more starts after that, throwing 95 pitches over six innings in a loss to the Mets, then serving up three homers in five innings to the Rockies in the season's final weekend.

2019 outlook: As has been stated here before, the Nationals are going to have to address their rotation from outside the organization this winter, but they're also going to have to count on several guys from within the organization to seize control of starting jobs in 2019. And Ross is probably at the top of that list.

There are two valid reasons for optimism here: 1) Ross appears to be 100 percent healthy again, and he'll have a full and normal offseason to get himself ready for spring training, and 2) He's been a successful big league starter before, so it's not like the Nats are asking him to do something he hasn't done.

Ross made 35 appearances (32 starts) from 2015 through 2016, during which time he went 12-10 with a 3.52 ERA, 1.222 WHIP and 162 strikeouts in 181 2/3 innings. That's solid. Really solid. And that came as he was still 22-23 years old, having admittedly been rushed through the minors.

Which isn't to suggest that Ross' future success is guaranteed. He needs not only to prove he can stay healthy but prove he can effectively throw three pitches to get big league hitters out and consistently give his team six or more innings. The right-hander has the stuff and the makeup to think he can do it. Now it's time for him to go out and actually do it.