Young starters, Alu among Nats' first cuts; Hassell getting MRI

JUPITER, Fla. – It took nearly four weeks, but the Nationals finally made their first round of cuts this morning, removing seven players from their spring training roster, the majority of them young starting pitchers who weren’t going to get the innings they needed had they remained in big league camp.

Right-handers Joan Adon, Cole Henry and Amos Willingham, left-handers DJ Herz and Mitchell Parker and infielder Jake Alu all were optioned to Triple-A Rochester. Outfielder Travis Blankenhorn, who isn’t on the 40-man roster, was reassigned to minor league camp.

Adon, Henry, Herz and Parker all could figure into the Nationals’ rotation plans over the course of the season, the latter three hoping to make their major league debuts. Adon has spent parts of the last three years in the majors as a fill-in starter.

“I really wanted to see some of these young guys pitch up here, and for the most part I saw some really good things,” manager Davey Martinez said. “But it’s time to get these guys stretched out and get them on a regular routine.”

Herz joined the organization last summer, acquired from the Cubs along with infielder Kevin Made for Jeimer Candelario in the Nats’ lone trade deadline deal. The 23-year-old lefty impressed in eight starts at Double-A Harrisburg down the stretch, then pitched in the Arizona Fall League and was added to the 40-man roster over the winter.

In three relief appearances this spring, Herz allowed one run on three hits over four innings, striking out five. The hiccup: five walks, which has been his biggest issue in the minors.

“We talked about controlling his emotions, controlling the strike zone,” Martinez said. “And just going down there and knocking the door down. His stuff is really good, but he’s got to understand who he is and what he wants to do.”

Parker, a fifth-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, went 9-6 with a 4.20 ERA and 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings at Harrisburg last season before a brief promotion to Rochester. The 24-year-old lefty tossed six scoreless innings with zero walks this spring, impressing club officials.

Henry presents an intriguing long-term option as well. The 2020 second-round pick seemed on the cusp of the majors in 2022 but wound up having thoracic outlet surgery. He returned to throw 33 1/3 innings at three levels of the minors last season. Healthy again with a fastball topping out at 97 mph, the right-hander is slated to open the season starting but could be moved to the bullpen as club officials decide his best path to the majors.

“I was so happy with Cole Henry, because of where he was at and the way he’s throwing the baseball,” Martinez said. “It means a lot to us, it means a lot to him, to see him out on the field competing. … The hope is to get him going, and then we’ll see what our needs are, because he possibly could help us down the road.”

Alu’s demotion at this stage came as a bit of a surprise, given the playing time he got in the majors last season following his promotion from Triple-A. But the 26-year-old utility man didn’t appear to have a path to a spot on the Opening Day roster, with veteran infielder Ildemaro Vargas returning and Rule 5 draftee Nasim Nuñez potentially making the team as well.

Martinez said Alu will play second base, third base and left field for Rochester, waiting in the wings in case he’s needed in Washington again.

“Here’s a guy that, if somebody goes down, he needs to be ready to come up and help us,” the manager said. “I just want to get him consistent at-bats and really work on his swing, being a little more consistent. I know he can hit, and I’ve seen him when he’s really good. Now it’s just about consistency.”

* Robert Hassell III is set to have an MRI taken today on his groin, an injury to which has prevented him from playing since Friday night. Martinez said the outfield prospect was feeling considerably better the day after suffering the injury, but the club wanted to have him take the MRI just to be sure.

* Relievers Dylan Floro and Matt Barnes recently faced hitters in live batting practice and are likely to do that again one more time before pitching in games. Floro, who reported a sore shoulder earlier in camp, and Barnes, who signed a minor league deal two weeks ago, both remain on track to be ready for Opening Day.