Garrett has surgery, Ward stretching out as starter

MIAMI – Stone Garrett had his surgery to repair his fractured left fibula this afternoon, per manager Davey Martinez. The skipper didn’t have a full update on his outfielder’s condition before tonight’s opener against the Marlins but hopes to have one postgame.

“He had his surgery today. We have no update yet,” Martinez said during his pregame meeting with the media. “I should know more after the game today.”

Garrett was placed on the 10-day injured list yesterday after suffering the injury Wednesday in New York while trying to make a leaping catch of DJ LeMahieu’s seventh-inning homer to right field. He was helped to a cart to take him off the field with an air cast placed around his left leg. As the Nationals finished their series against the Yankees and made their way to Miami, Garrett made his way back to D.C. to meet lead team physician Robert Najarian and eventually have surgery.

“Nothing that I know,” Martinez responded when asked if Garrett’s MRI revealed any further damage to his leg. “Like I said, he had surgery today. So I don't know what happened after the surgery. I knew it was this afternoon. So we'll know more after recovery.”

Although Garrett’s diagnosis was devastating, it’s not all bad news on the Nats’ injury report.

Thaddeus Ward, on the 15-day IL since July 3 with shoulder inflammation, made his first rehab start with High-A Wilmington last night. The top pick in last year’s Rule 5 draft completed four scoreless innings with three hits, one walk and two strikeouts as the Nationals continue to stretch him out.

“Thad Ward actually threw four innings, 51 pitches and was up to 96 (mph), which is great,” Martinez said. “So we're going to continue to build him up. Like I said, I think we're gonna push him maybe to start starting some games and see where we're at with it. So he's doing well.”

The Nationals want Ward to get up to a higher pitch count and even deeper into games before activating him off the injured list. The right-hander was mostly used as a starter while coming up in the Red Sox system, but he was used exclusively out of the bullpen over his first 22 appearances with the Nats. If they’re able to stretch him out, he can help spread out this six-man rotation or even provide long innings out of the bullpen.

“I want to try to build him up to five-plus and maybe 75-80 pitches. Maybe six if we can,” Martinez said. “So we're gonna gradually take our time and build him up. But like I said, he'd be a nice piece to have, especially with the six-man rotation, that he could come up here and help us start.”

Ward has a history of starting. He just hasn’t done it with the Nats this year. So what’s the biggest challenge for him as continues to increase his pitch count and innings?

“It's just kind of just building him up again, understanding what we're trying to do with him,” Martinez said. “And he's been great. He's been doing awesome. He's gotten into a little bit more of a starter routine, which is great. And I think that's important, too, that it's a whole different routine that he has to get used to. So getting ready every five days instead of every other day, like we had him in the past, will definitely help him.”

Tanner Rainey, still working his way back from last season’s Tommy John surgery, pitched a scoreless inning with two walks and two strikeouts while starting Double-A Harrisburg’s game last night. Unlike Ward, he is not getting stretched out as a starter. He has pitched 1 ⅔ scoreless innings over his two rehab appearances with the Senators, with the Nationals liking his progress.

“Tanner Rainey threw one inning, 24 pitches, up to 94 (mph), so he's getting better,” Martinez said. “So we'll keep building him up.”