Harris determined to make it back from thoracic outlet surgery

PHILADELPHIA – Will Harris last pitched for the Nationals on May 22, 2021, when he surrendered hits to all three Orioles batters he faced. He wound up on the injured list after that, undergoing thoracic outlet surgery about a week later.

Harris reported for spring training this year optimistic about making the opening day roster. He then was shut down after struggling in an exhibition game appearance, underwent surgery to repair his pectoral muscle at the end of March and began another long rehab program.

Now, here was Harris on Tuesday, pitching off the bullpen mound at Citizens Bank Park, believing he’s about ready to face live hitters at last, then ultimately join the Nats’ active roster more than a year after he was first shut down.

“It’s definitely been a way longer process than I think I ever imagined it would be,” he said. “I’m just anxious to get back and start pitching again.”

Harris has been anxious for a long time to finally live up to the three-year, $24 million contract the Nationals gave him after the 2019 season, one in which he dominated for the Astros before surrendering Howie Kendrick’s World Series-winning homer in Game 7. He made 20 erratic appearances during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, then only eight in 2021 before he realized the numbness and swelling he was experiencing in his pitching hand had to be addressed.

Thoracic outlet surgery followed to remove one of his ribs that was pressing on a nerve, causing the numbness and swelling in his hand. Then came the complication this spring with his pectoral muscle, requiring a second surgery.

At this point, Harris insists he feels great physically. He’s been throwing the ball with no issues and has seen progress with each bullpen session he’s thrown over the last few weeks.

But he knows there remains a major hurdle still to overcome.

“Getting back on the mound and actually pitching is the last piece of the puzzle now,” he said. “And it’s a big piece.”

The Nationals hope that development will happen soon, once Harris proves he’s good to go following another bullpen session or two.

“No one expected it to be this long, but as I’ve said with this thoracic outlet surgery, you never know,” manager Davey Martinez said. “But he’s working hard, trying to get back. He’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do physically-wise. Now it’s just getting him to that next stage where he can go out and try to compete and face hitters and build up to that and see where he’s at. As I’ve said before, with that kind of surgery it’s tough to say how they’re going to be. They might feel good. They might come back, and as you all know, something could happen.”

Indeed, there are no guarantees with thoracic outlet surgery, as Stephen Strasburg has painfully learned. Harris, though, believes his hard work over the last year-plus will pay off soon enough.

He turns 38 next month, and his contract expires at season’s end. The Nationals are going nowhere this year, and it’s fair to question how much value there is in giving Harris big league innings down the stretch of this season.

But this has become a personal mission for Harris. He hasn’t gone through all these ups and down since May 2021 to not see it through the finish line. He may only get a chance to pitch a bit for a last-place club in August and September. But if it means he’ll have proven he can still do it, it will be worth it to him.

“Absolutely,” Harris said. “I’ve been on the (IL) one time in my career before all this stuff happened. So it’s been a painful, grueling process for sure. It ain’t fun. But I’m optimistic about what I can do when I do get back, and hopefully that’s sooner than later. I feel like it will be. I plan on being really good for this team.”