Martinez on Lester and Rainey, first cuts and Barrett's knee surgery

Davey Martinez's morning Zoom session with reporters was delayed about 35 minutes so the Nationals manager could watch left-hander Jon Lester throw live batting practice, an important step after returning to camp following surgery to remove one of his parathyroid glands.

"He threw 37 pitches, two innings. He looked good," Martinez said of Lester, who returned to spring training in West Palm Beach earlier this week after surgery on March 5 in New York. "He was about 75, 80 percent. The ball was coming out well."

The Nationals will re-evaluate Lester tomorrow before determining the next steps for the veteran starter.

"He mentioned about getting in a game, but we'll see how he feels tomorrow," Martinez said.

While the Nats want Lester healthy for the start of the regular season, and remain confident the veteran can be ready, because he is slotted as the fourth starter and because there are two off-days in the first eight days of the season, they could also give him a little extra time to prepare.

Righty Tanner Rainey, who has yet to pitch in an exhibition game because of a minor muscle strain by his right collarbone, also threw live BP on Sunday morning.

"He looked good as well," Martinez said after Rainey's 20-pitch effort. "He's at about 80 percent. He said he had a lot more in the tank, but we kind of want to control what he's doing. But he looked good. No pain, no issues. We'll re-evaluate him tomorrow to see where he's at."

Martinez wants to give Rainey a two-day break before getting him back on the mound and increasing his workload. Once Rainey gets to 90 or 95 percent, the manager said, the Nats can get him into a game. But with just over two weeks of camp remaining, Rainey risks starting the season on the injured list if he cannot get into a game soon.

* The Nationals made their first round of cuts this morning, but unlike previous camps, players weren't busily cleaning out locker stalls, packing equipment bags and departing for the minor league side of the facility at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

With strict health protocols in place to combat COVID-19, minor league camps not starting until major league camps end and the start of the minor league seasons pushed back until early May, players will remain in West Palm Beach and be available to play in Grapefruit League games.

In other words, though they may have been demoted or reassigned, those players cut will still be around. Those in the minor league portion of the major league camp, however, will work out in separate groups.

"We're able to keep eyes on them," Martinez said. "You'll see a lot of guys still playing in our games late."

Right-hander Joan Adon and infielders Yasel Antuna and Jake Noll were optioned to Triple-A Rochester.

The following players were reassigned to the minor league portion of the major league camp: right-handers Bryan Bonnell, Cade Cavalli, Jacob Condra-Bogan, Tyler Dyson, Tyler Eppler, Cole Henry, Gabe Klobosits, Jefry Rodriguez and Jackson Rutledge; left-handers Tim Cate and Matt Cronin; infielders Jackson Cluff and Drew Mendoza; outfielder Cody Wilson; and catchers Israel Pineda, Jakson Reetz and Raudy Read.

* Right-hander Aaron Barrett, in camp on a minor league contract as a non-roster invitee, underwent right knee surgery a "couple days ago," according to Martinez, and will rejoin the Nationals in camp today.

"He was here early and he was throwing, felt something in his knee and went and got an MRI and had to get cleaned up," Martinez said.