Rehabbing Gray tries to make most of spring training opportunities

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Josiah Gray knows exactly where he currently stands in his rehab from Tommy John surgery.

“I’m about six months and three weeks in,” he said. “It’ll be seven months on the 24th.”

Forgive the Nationals right-hander for being able to recite such specific mileposts off the top of his head. It’s just the way it is for any rehabbing pitcher. It’s about the only way to stay sane throughout this long, arduous process.

Since he went under the knife July 24 to have his torn elbow ligament replaced and have an internal brace implanted in the elbow to further stabilize everything, Gray has known when he’ll be allowed to do what.

For six months, all he could do was exercise and physical therapy. Nothing with a baseball allowed. Then on Jan. 27, he finally got to cross a major item off the rehab list when he played catch for the first time since surgery.

“It was fun to see all the work I had put in in the offseason sort of come to a head,” he said. “OK, we’re actually going to throw a ball today. I loved it.”

Gray was restricted to 60-foot throws on flat ground every other day. This week, he gets to move back to 75 feet. He’ll eventually get to 90 feet, 120 feet and full-scale long toss.

He’s also allowed to participate in some drills alongside teammates this spring. Again, nothing that involves throwing. But he can field comebackers. He can run to cover first base on a grounder to the right side. He can catch popups near the mound if no infielders call him off.

It can be tough to be stuck on the sidelines when it’s time for the pitchers to throw bullpen sessions or live batting practice. Gray’s arm feels great, so it’s awfully tempting to think he could join everyone else on the mound.

But that’s strictly prohibited at this stage of rehab, so he must instead make the most of this opportunity to feel like a part of the full team, not just an injured player working solo.

“I’m going to soak it up as much as I can,” he said. “There is a point to being around your teammates, being around people that you enjoy being around. So for these two months, I’m going to really enjoy that.”

Gray watches bullpen sessions from nearby. He’ll listen to what fellow pitchers are saying about their stuff. He’ll look at the iPads that provide instant data about a pitch’s location, velocity, break, etc., and share his thoughts with everyone.

It’s helpful for both sides of the equation.

“What I love about JoJo is that he’s not just here for him. He’s here for everybody else,” manager Davey Martinez said. “So he’s engaged (with) his teammates. He’s watching bullpens. And I love that about him. He wants to see his teammates do well.”

The toughest moment may come March 23, when the team packs up and heads north to begin the season and Gray is left in West Palm Beach to continue his rehab with a few fellow injured pitchers and the year-round staff at the complex.

Gray may still be as much as two months away from throwing off a mound at that point. Those two months could represent the toughest mental challenge he’ll face throughout this entire process.

But eventually the day will come when he’s told he throw a bullpen session for the first time. Then he’ll get to face live hitters. Then he’ll throw in a simulated game or two in Florida. Then he’ll head out on a 30-day minor league rehab assignment, where he’ll pitch in actual games and build his arm back up to the point he can reach the fifth inning.

And then, at long last, Gray will get the call he’s been waiting for since that awful day he learned he needed surgery. The Nationals will activate him off the 60-day injured list, bring him to D.C. and hand him the ball for his first major league start in perhaps 16 months.

“It’ll be sometime soon,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the days ahead and getting back to being a true pitcher.”