Washington Nationals news & notes: Jose A. Ferrer earns big opportunities with solid work in 2024…

Signed as a free agent out of Venezuela in 2017, Jose A. Ferrer debuted within the majors in 2023, and this previous season, the 23-year-old left-hander stepped up as a part of the most important league bullpen and labored his approach into high-leverage innings by the top of his second marketing campaign with the Nationals.

A left lat pressure suffered in Spring Coaching saved Ferrer out till mid-July, however as soon as he was again, he impressed.

“I believed when he first bought damage, they usually informed me what it was, he was going to overlook a really very long time,” supervisor Davey Martinez mentioned on September twelfth, noting how the harm and his restoration ended up offering a lesson for the southpaw.

“He’s a powerful child. He labored actually arduous to come back again. And one of the best factor is, he didn’t lose any of his velo. All the things’s intact. He’s understanding he has to keep up his energy all through the season. He does all his work within the coaching room, and his legs are sturdy. I’m actually completely happy that he bounced again the best way he did.”

Some highlights from Ferrer’s 2024 run (by way of Washington’s official Season in Evaluate):

Pitched to a 1.42 ERA (4 ER/25.1 IP) with 19 strikeouts and two walks from Aug. 10-end of the season.”
Tossed 12.0 scoreless innings from Aug. 10 to Sept. 3
Lefties hit .167 (7-for-42) towards him in 2024.
Didn’t permit a homer till his final outing, Sept. 28 vs. Philadelphia…Was 1 of three relievers with no less than 30.0 IP to not permit a HR at that time.

“I believe he positively — if he retains doing what he’s doing, he’s a again finish of the bullpen man,” Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez informed reporters in mid-September, shortly after Ferrer earned his first save within the majors.

“I take a look at him now and there’s not too many lefties popping out and throwing like him. The one one I can bear in mind is [Josh] Hader.”

“He’s achieved nicely, the most important factor with him is the flexibility for him to throw strikes proper now and throw his fastball for strikes, and he’s bought confidence.

“He’s bought a number of confidence proper now, and I like that about him.”

Ferrer threw 58.8% sinkers, holding opposing hitters to a .247 AVG on the pitch, mixing in a changeup (19.1%; 88.3 MPH; .227 BAA), four-seam fastball (16.6%; 98.3 MPH; .235 BAA), and slider (5.5%; 88 MPH; .000 BAA).

Why was Ferrer’s sinker so good? Maintain on a minute …

“I don’t know if he is aware of he throws a sinker,” Martinez joked with reporters within the remaining days of the common season.

“He simply throws the ball, and it’s very arduous, and the ball has excellent horizontal break on it, yeah. However it’s very efficient, yeah.

“The rationale why I say that,” about not figuring out if Ferrer throws a sinker, “I don’t wish to begin placing issues in his head, and abruptly he says, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to throw a sinker.’

“Subsequent factor he’s throwing bowling balls, so he’s doing nicely, yeah.”

Ferrer did nicely sufficient that Martinez gave him two save alternatives down the stretch, and he mentioned over the ultimate weekend he might see the lefty getting extra sooner or later.

“I positively see him as probably pitching high-leverage conditions on the again finish of the bullpen,” Martinez mentioned.

“He’s achieved very well. I’ve been giving him extra alternatives to try this and he’s achieved very well. Can I see him become one thing else. Probably, yeah. He’s robust.

“He’s robust on lefties and righties. He’s achieved very well.

“He’s come a good distance. The harm he had earlier, we weren’t too certain when he was going to pitch once more, however he labored his approach again and he’s doing very well now.”