Herz Dominates in Rehab Return

**Corey** (0:00)
It's June 5th. This is Washington Nationals News Today, powered by AI Everything Happening with Your Team. I'm Corey with the story. DJ Herz, the Washington Nationals' promising lefty pitcher, is back on the mound after Tommy John surgery. He made his first rehab start in rookie ball this afternoon, throwing two perfect innings with four strikeouts. This is a huge step for the 25-year-old who had been sidelined since before the 2025 season.
What's really encouraging is that Herz didn't walk a single batter.
Control has been a challenge for him in the past, with a career walk rate of nearly six per nine innings. But his stuff has always been electric, featuring a fastball that plays up and a nasty slider. Back in 2024, Herz showed flashes of brilliance, even striking out 13 batters in one outing against the Marlins. His fastball, averaging in the low to mid-90s, has a whiff rate over 30 percent, which is pretty wild.
His change up and slider also add to his dynamic arsenal. Now, the Nationals face an interesting decision as Herz progresses.
He could potentially be a valuable asset in a multi-ending relief roll, possibly even an upgrade over current options. However, given the severity of his injury, it's unlikely he'll be thrown straight back into the starting rotation. He'll likely be eased back in, perhaps starting in the minors or the bullpen. His next rehab start will probably be at a higher level, and we'll be watching his walk numbers and velocity closely to gauge his progress. It's great to see him back on the field and with other young arms like Jarlin Cezana and Travis Secora, also recovering, there's hope for the Nationals pitching staff.