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The Washington Nationals placed Ross Ohlendorf on the 60-Day DL in late March, days after they optioned the then-31-year-old right-hander to Triple-A Syracuse. The option was voided:
The #Nats have voided their previous option of RHP Ross Ohlendorf and have placed him on the 60-Day DL with a right lumbar strain.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 26, 2014
The seven-year veteran signed a 1-year/$1.25M deal after he finished the 2013 campaign at +0.3 fWAR, with a (4-1) record in 16 games and seven major league starts in which he put up a 3.28 ERA, a 4.03 FIP, 14 walks (2.09 BB/9) and 45 Ks (6.71 K/9) in 60 ⅓ IP.
His successful run was in part due to a bump up in his fastball velocity, to an average of 92.5 MPH and a high of 96.8 mph according to Fangraphs.com.
"I've thrown that hard in the past," Ohlendorf told reporters in January.
"It just had been a while," he joked. "But the velocity definitely helped. I felt like my command was good. I learned to pitch up in the zone effectively, so, not just hitting 97 [mph] that one time, but just the fact that my velocity consistently was higher when I wanted it to be."
Ohlendorf returned to make three rehab starts in May 2014, one for the High-A Potomac Nationals and two for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, but after a May 25th start with the Nats' top minor league affiliate, the right-hander was sidelined with what Chiefs' skipper Billy Gardner, Jr. told Syracuse.com writer Lindsay Kramer was a "'sore lat or tight lat.'"
Ohlendorf made two starts in August, but his season ended after an August 31st outing with Potomac.
The Nationals announced tonight that Ohlendorf elected for free agency after he was reinstated from the 60-Day DL and outrighted off the 40-Man Roster:
The #Nats have reinstated RHP Ross Ohlendorf from the 60-day DL & outrighted him off the 40-man roster. He will elect free agency.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 28, 2014