Thaddeus

Ward

It looks like the Nationals want Ward to get stretched out as a starter in the minors this season. The team optioned him to Triple-A Rochester after he pitched on Monday. Washington used the 27-year-old in relief last season and appeared in 26 games where struggled with a 6.37 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 30/28 K/BB ratio.

La Sorsa heads back to the minors to make room for Thaddeus Ward to come off the IL. The left-hander threw five scoreless innings across two appearances in his most recent stint with the big league club and now has a 5.02 ERA in 28 2/3 innings on the season. There’s a chance he gets another shot as a fresh arm in the bullpen later this month.

The Rule 5 pick from the Boston Red Sox had made 22 appearances for the Nationals, while posting a 7.12 ERA before going on the IL in early July. Ward looked good in his last rehab outing and has now pitched exactly five innings in his last two outings and is built up to 79 pitches. All 22 of his appearances with Washington this season have come as a reliever, but it appears as though the team is looking to use him as a starter once he returns from the 15-day injured list. Joe La Sorsa was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The 26-year-old was sent to the IL in early July after making 22 appearances for the Washington Nationals (7.12 ERA). Shoulder inflammation was the culprit and he’s attempting to pitch his way back into shape in the lower levels. He made two starts for the rookie-league affiliate before bumping up to high-A on Thursday. Ward gave up just three hits and one walk in four innnings of scoreless work, striking out two along the way.

Ward will kick off his rehab assignment with the Nationals’ Rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate. The 26-year-old Rule 5 selection has been out since early July due to right shoulder inflammation.

Ward heads to the injured list after being hit hard his last time out on Saturday against the Phillies. The 26-year-old Rule 5 selection will get a couple weeks off before rejoining Washington’s relief mix.

The Nationals would have liked some length from Ward down big in this one, but he threw 28 pitches while getting just two outs. The 26-year-old Rule 5 pick from the Red Sox has given up 15 runs over 10 2/3 innings in his last eight appearances. His ERA for the season stands at 7.12. One imagines the Nationals will hold on to him, but they might stash him on the IL at some point.

Espino heading to the minors means the club will carry several interesting relievers on their season-opening roster including Rule 5 selection Thaddeus Ward, lefty Anthony Banda and righty Hobie Harris.

Ward, the first overall pick in the Rule 5 draft out of the Red Sox system, seems like a lock for the Nationals bullpen. He’s walked six in 8 2/3 innings this spring, but he’s also struck out 11 while amassing a 4.15 ERA. It’s unlikely that he’ll be an above average reliever as a rookie, but he should be able to hold his own in the middle innings.

After a breakout campaign, Ward hit a string of bad timing with the pandemic and TJS causing him to miss most of the past two seasons. The 25-year-old returned in July and looked like the same pitcher prior to the surgery. He posted a 2.43 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 33 1/3 innings for Double-A Portland and then another 12 2/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League. If he sticks on the rebuilding Nationals roster, he has back-end starter upside.