Ross Detwiler returned, but he will not begin the season in the Washington Nationals starting rotation — a mild surprise that new manager Matt Williams unveiled this week.
According to reports, Detwiler is not thrilled with the move, but that the Nationals are thinking the left-hander could become a weapon out of the bullpen.
“He provides something special out of the bullpen for us,” Williams told The Washington Post. “I don’t know if anybody would ever really be happy with something like that. We don’t feel it’s a demotion of any sort. He offers that something special — power lefty, mid-90’s lefty.”
Williams also said that this move does not knock Detwiler out of the starting rotation forever, just for now. The move also is understandable considering Detwiler missed the last four months of last season with back problems and eventual surgery.
The question now is who will be the No. 5 starter? It could be Taylor Jordan or Tanner Roark. Both got looks in Washington last year, and Roark did especially well, pitching effectively out of the bullpen and eventually making five starts to end up with an impressive 7-1 record in just under two months.
Jordan also pitched well, going 1-3 with a 3.66 ERA in nine starts. Chris Young also could have a shot at the job coming out of spring training.
If Detwiler pitches well out of the bullpen and makes that group stronger, he will probably stay. The Nationals know he could start if needed, but for now, he’s coming out of the bullpen.
NOTES, QUOTES
–C Wilson Ramos has been swinging a hot bat throughout spring. He was batting .385 (one homer, 11 RBIs) in his first nine games. Even better, he struck out just once in 26 at-bats.
–3B Ryan Zimmerman also is hitting well in Florida. He’s batting .333 with one homer and three RBIs so far in nine games, with three of his eight hits going for extra bases.
–LHP Ross Detwiler is not going to be the team’s No. 5 starter, Nationals manager Matt Williams said. The skipper said the team is going to use Detwiler out of the bullpen to begin the season.
–C Koyie Hill, already re-assigned to the team’s minor league camp, was traded to the Phuladelphia Phillies, reportedly for a player to be named later or cash. The 35-year-old was battling for a back-up spot, but the Nationals already have at least three catchers there.
–RHP Doug Fister threw two innings in an intrasquad game Monday and felt fine. He had not pitched in a game (elbow inflammation) for about two weeks, but the team is going to keep an eye on him to see how he recovers.
–RHP Ryan Mattheus also pitched in the intrasquad game and threw well. He had not pitched in a game all spring due to costochondritis (chest discomfort), according to The Washington Post.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I wouldn’t limit him to a lefty specialist role. I think it’s a luxury for our team to have a guy in our bullpen who can do (different) things.” — Nationals manager Matt Williams on his thoughts for moving LHP Ross Detwiler to the bullpen.