The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Cole Henry from Triple-A Rochester and placed right-handed pitcher Orlando Ribalta on the 15-day Injured List (retroactive to April 10) with a right biceps strain on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Henry, 25, was selected in the second round of the 2020 First Year Player Draft by the Nationals out of Louisiana State University. In five Minor League seasons, he went 4-9 with a 3.25 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 130.1 innings. He has produced 11.2 strikeouts per 9.0 innings and held opposing hitters to just a .190 batting average. Henry’s opponents average ranks second among Nationals Minor League pitchers since the start of 2021 (min. 100.0 IP), behind only Zach Brzykcy (.185).
In two games with Rochester this season, Henry struck out four in 2.0 innings and allowed just one hit. He pitched in three Major League Spring Training games in 2025, each of them scoreless, and struck out nine in 4.2 innings.
With his debut, Henry becomes the third of the six players selected by the Nationals in the shortened 2020 Draft to make it to Washington, joining Cade Cavalli (first round) and Mitchell Parker (fifth round) .
Ribalta, 27, pitched to a 5.87 ERA in four games for Washington this season. He struck out six in 7.2 innings.