Irvin Back on Mound After Shoulder Strain | Washington Nationals News

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On July 8th, Washington Nationals pitcher Jake Irvin took a big step in his recovery on Wednesday, facing live hitters for the first time in six weeks. He'd been sidelined with a shoulder strain, and this session was a key part of his return to the mound. This live batting practice is a good sign after Irvin landed on the injured list back on May 24th. He was actually pitching really well before the injury, throwing five hitless innings against the Braves before feeling that tightness.
Thankfully, the MRI showed no structural damage, just a strain. Irvin, who is 27 years old, had been a solid part of the Nationals rotation this season. Before getting hurt, he had a 2-4 record with a 5.23 earned run average, striking out 58 batters in just over 51 innings. Now, if this live hitting session went well, the next step could be a minor league rehab assignment.
This will be a huge boost for the Nationals, who have dealt with a lot of pitching injuries this year. His return could happen before the all-star break wraps up, giving the rotation much needed depth for the second half of the season. You've been listening to Washington Nationals News Today, AI-powered team coverage.