Ferrer gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning Friday to record his third hold of the season in a 7-4 win over the Marlins.
The 25-year-old southpaw has been one of the Nationals' primary setup men to begin the season, and Ferrer is already halfway to the career-high six holds he pocketed in 2024. While his 5.40 ERA and 1.80 WHIP through 6.2 innings aren't impressive, Ferrer's 8:2 K:BB might offer a better glimpse of how effective he's been. He's also been the victim of some bad luck in the early going with a .429 BABIP and 63.5 LOB%, both of which have plenty of room for regression to friendlier rates.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: No longer co-favorite for saves
Rotowire
Ferrer and Jorge Lopez are likely no longer the leading closer candidates for Washington after Kyle Finnegan re-signed Tuesday on a one-year, $6 million contract, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Finnegan recorded 38 saves as the Nationals closer last year but had a 3.68 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, leading to him being non-tendered in November. Ferrer had a 3.38 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB across 32 innings last season and was named a candidate to close -- along with Lopez -- by manager Dave Martinez early in spring training. The return of Finnegan could push Ferrer and Lopez down the pecking order for saves.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Could factor into closing picture
Rotowire
Manager Dave Martinez said earlier this week that Ferrer remains a candidate to save games for the Nationals along with Jorge Lopez, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. "As I said earlier, Ferrer will get an opportunity to close as well," Martinez said. "Right now, we're going to play matchups. But if Lopez is available, he can do it."
The back end of the Washington bullpen is in flux heading into Opening Day, after the Nationals elected to non-tender Kyle Finnegan in November coming off a 38-save season. Washington brought in Lopez over the winter on a one-year, $3 million deal, and based on Martinez's comments, Lopez -- who saved 23 games in 2022 between stops with the Orioles and Twins -- looks to be the preferred option in what could be a two-pronged approach at closer. Ferrer, meanwhile, has just one career save to his name, but he was one of Washington's top relievers in 2024 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB in 32 innings. As the southpaw option of the two relievers, Ferrer could be the choice over Lopez for save situations that arise when the Nationals face lefty-heavy lineups in the ninth inning.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Picks up save
Rotowire
Ferrer picked up the save Sunday against Miami, allowing one run on two hits across one inning with no strikeouts.
Kyle Finnegan pitched in two straight games before Sunday's contest, resulting in Ferrer handling ninth-inning work. It was Ferrer's first save of the 2024 season, and he has a 3.65 ERA across 24.2 innings.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Rejoins bullpen
Rotowire
The Nationals activated Ferrer (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Friday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Ferrer has been out all season with a strain of the teres major muscle in his left shoulder. He will give the team a second left-hander in the bullpen behind Robert Garcia, something the Nationals have not had in 2024 until now.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Rehab moved to Double-A
Rotowire
The Nationals transferred Ferrer's (shoulder) rehab assignment to Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Ferrer appeared in one game in the Florida Complex League, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one batter in 1.1 innings. He'll now join Harrisburg in order to rehab against some tougher competition, though it's still unclear whether he'll report to the Nationals or Triple-A Rochester once he's activated off the 60-day IL.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Beginning rehab assignment
Rotowire
Ferrer (shoulder) was sent to the Nationals' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Thursday to begin a rehab assignment.
Ferrer has been out all season with a strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder but has finally been cleared for game action. The lefty's rehab assignment should be fairly lengthy given how much time he's missed, and he's not a given to be added to the major-league roster once his time on the 60-day injured list is over.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Looks sharp in live BP
Rotowire
Ferrer (shoulder) struck out all four of the batters he faced during a live throwing session Monday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Ferrer was cleared to face live hitters June 14 and is presumably close to a minor-league rehab assignment following an impressive showing Monday. However, the club has yet to reveal an exact timetable for the southpaw's return from the 60-day injured list.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Tossing live BP on Monday
Rotowire
Ferrer (shoulder) will throw live batting practice Monday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Ferrer will face batters for the first time since suffering a shoulder strain back in March, but it's not yet clear when he might begin a rehab assignment. The 24-year-old should be expected to return in late June or early July.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Throwing from 120 feet
Rotowire
Ferrer (shoulder) recently extended his throwing distance from flat ground to 120 feet, MLB.com reports.
Ferrer has been making slow progress in his recovery from a teres major strain in his left shoulder, an injury that first cropped up during spring training. He's been limited to playing catch for nearly a month, though he could soon be ready to resume throwing off a mound. Ferrer is likely at least a couple of weeks from heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment and probably won't be a realistic option to return from the 60-day injured list until the second half of June.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Plays catch
Rotowire
Ferrer (shoulder) played catch from 60 feet Friday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Ferrer had been shut down since mid-March with a strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder. He's on the 60-day injured list and it will be a while before he can return, but he's ready to begin a throwing progression.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Ferrer (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.
The 24-year-old has been shut down from throwing since March 15 due to a strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder, and he'll be sidelined for at least the first two months of the season. Ferrer is nearly halfway through his initial three-week shutdown, so he could resume throwing in early April if his shoulder checks out fine.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Managing lat injury
Rotowire
Manager Dave Martinez said Thursday that Ferrer is dealing with a lat injury, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Ferrer has pitched in just one exhibition game over the past two weeks, and his injured lat explains why. It's unclear when Ferrer will be ready to get back to making consistent appearances, but Martinez said the team will know more in a couple of days.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Shut down for three weeks
Rotowire
Ferrer was diagnosed with a strain of the teres major muscle Friday and will be shut down for three weeks before being reevaluated, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.comreports.
The left-hander was limited to just one appearance during spring training due to the injury and will now begin the season on the injured list. Ferrer will require a ramp-up period after being shut down for multiple weeks, so he's likely to be sidelined for at least the first month of the season.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Collects first MLB win
Rotowire
Ferrer (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday against the Rockies, allowing one run on three hits over 1.2 innings of relief. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The southpaw wasn't exactly dominant, but he was the pitcher of record when the Nationals mounted a four-run comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning. Ferrer has been tagged for runs in four of his last six appearances and now has a bloated 5.59 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in his first 9.2 big-league innings.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Officially promoted
Rotowire
The Nationals recalled Ferrer from Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
The 23-year-old southpaw holds a 3.83 ERA and 1.55 WHIP alongside a 33:20 K:BB across 40 innings in Triple-A this season, and he'll be making his MLB debut whenever he gets into a game. He figures to begin his career in middle relief, but there could be openings in the high-leverage crew soon depending on what the Nationals do at the trade deadline. Patrick Corbin was placed on the bereavement list in a corresponding move.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: To be called up Friday
Rotowire
Ferrer will be called up by the Nationals on Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Ferrer has struggled with his command this summer at Triple-A Rochester, but the 23-year-old relief prospect owns a 3.04 ERA with 235 strikeouts in 192.2 career minor-league innings. He'll probably slide into a middle-relief role initially but could see higher-leverage opportunities after the Nats shed parts at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Optioned out to Triple-A
Rotowire
Ferrer was optioned to Triple-A Rochester by the Nationals on Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post reports.
Ferrer had put together a strong spring and was said to be making a push for the Opening Day roster, but the Nats will give him a little more development time in the minors. The 23-year-old registered an encouraging 2.48 ERA and 78:11 K:BB in 65.1 innings last season between Low-A, High-A and Double-A ball.
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Nationals' Jose Ferrer: Making push for roster spot
Rotowire
Ferrer could open the season in the Nationals' bullpen, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The 23-year-old left-hander has yet to pitch above Double-A, but Ferrer was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft and has a 3:1 K:BB through 3.2 spring innings while seeing work early in Grapefruit League games in order to face big-league hitters. The Nationals don't have many healthy lefty relief options left in camp -- Ferrer's current competition is down to journeyman Anthony Banda and fellow relief prospect Matt Cronin -- and while Sean Doolittle (elbow) should be in the mix at some point, Ferrer seems as though he's done enough in camp to win a spot. He offers a fastball that's touched 97 mph along with a changeup and slider, and with Kyle Finnegan potentially headed for a high-leverage fireman role rather than being locked into the ninth inning as a traditional closer, whoever Washington's top bullpen lefty is could see some matchup-dependent save opportunities.
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