Washington Nationals reinstate Trevor Rosenthal from Injured List: Now what?

Davey Martinez told reporters this past week that Trevor Rosenthal would rejoin the team in the near future, at which point they would have to work the veteran back into Washington’s bullpen mix carefully, considering how mightily he struggled in his first seven appearances for the Nationals after signing a 1-year/$8M free agent deal this winter.

Rosenthal gave up seven hits and nine walks, hit three batters, and allowed 12 earned runs over three innings, in which opposing hitters had a combined .438/.679/.438 line, before a 10-Day Injured List stint for a viral infection.

“We’ve got to ease his way back,” Martinez explained, as quoted by NBC Washington Sports reporter Todd Dybas.

“Whether it’s put him in low-leverage situations [or otherwise],” Martinez said. “When he gets here, we’ve got to pitch him. When he gets here, he’s going to pitch. We’re going to see where he’s at and hopefully get outs. All we want him to really do is concentrate on throwing strike one.”

Rosenthal gave up nine hits and seven walks, hit three batters, and surrendered six earned runs in 9 ¹⁄₃ IP on his rehab assignment with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, striking out 11 of the 47 hitters he faced in 10 appearances, and the Nationals needed to make a move with the 30-Day rehab window up on Sunday.

This afternoon, the Nationals activated Rosenthal in advance of the third of four with the San Diego Padres in Petco Park. He missed 39 games total.

To make room on the roster, Kyle McGowin was optioned out to Harrisburg after he’d made three appearances (one start) for the Nationals, giving up 14 hits, two walks, and 12 runs, 11 earned, in 10 IP.

Martinez said earlier this week that he liked what he saw from Rosenthal the last two times out, in spite of the results, which included him giving up a two-run home run in a 22-pitch appearance on Wednesday, in the second of his first back-to-back outings since returning to the mound for the Senators.

“He’s had two pretty decent outings,” Martinez said on Thursday, as quoted by MASN’s Mark Zuckerman.

“I know yesterday, I know it’s on video of him giving up a home run, but he’s throwing strikes. Which is nice. He’s throwing the ball where he needs to throw it. If he has another good outing, he’s OK.”

Will Rosenthal be able to straighten things out after spraying the ball around early in his first full season back following Tommy John surgery in 2017?