Unfortunately, the Washington Nationals will have to wait until 2025 to see pitcher Josiah Gray back on the field. Gray will be undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, as reported by MLB.com’s Jessica Camerato.
The 26-year-old Gray is set to have surgery next Wednesday, with the type of procedure (reconstructive Tommy John surgery or internal brace) to be determined by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister.
“It’s not going to be the end of my story,” Gray told the Associated Press.
Gray, who was the Nationals’ opening day starter, only made one additional appearance this season before being sidelined with a right elbow/forearm flexor strain. Despite making five rehab starts, he was shut down again after a rough outing for Triple-A Rochester in June. An MRI exam during the All-Star break revealed the tear.
“That was probably the toughest thing for me to kind of wrap my head around, because I felt like I was oh so close to getting back here in this clubhouse and contributing to wins,” Gray expressed to Camerato. “But unfortunately, there were other plans behind the scenes, and unfortunately, I hit the hardest setback of all.”
Gray, along with catcher Keibert Ruiz, was part of the trade that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021. He finishes the 2024 season with nine strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings, a 14.04 ERA, and a 0–2 record.
Throughout his four seasons with the Nationals, Gray has accumulated a 4.80 ERA, 369 strikeouts in 378 2/3 innings, and a 17–27 record. He was the Nats’ lone All-Star last year, concluding the season with an 8–13 record, 3.91 ERA, and 143 strikeouts in 159 innings.