July 27: The Nationals are officially terming Strasburg’s injury as a nerve impingement in his right elbow, per this morning’s announcement of Strasburg’s DL placement. Left-hander Sammy Solis has been recalled to give the bullpen some extra depth for the time being, while Fedde is slated to start in place of Strasburg on Saturday.
July 26, 9:36pm: Manager Dusty Baker confirmed after the game that Fedde is coming up and that Strasburg will be placed on the 10-day disabled list (Twitter link via Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post). The skipper was “adamant” that Strasburg will only miss one start, Janes adds.
8:05pm: The Nationals are calling up top pitching prospect Erick Fedde, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter). The former first-round pick, who ranked 70th on Baseball America’s midseason list of the game’s top 100 prospects, will likely start in place of Stephen Strasburg, Sherman adds.
Fedde, 24, was Washington’s first-round selection in the 2014 draft. The Nats made him the No. 18 overall pick that season despite the fact that he had Tommy John surgery not long before the draft. He’s spent most of his career in the minors as a starter but was briefly moved to a relief role in part to limit his innings but also given the potential for a midseason promotion to help a struggling Nationals relief corps.
The Nationals recently moved Fedde back to a rotation role, and while he was torched for six runs without recording an out in his initial return to the rotation, he’s allowed just three runs on 10 hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in his past 11 2/3 frames. Overall, he’s worked to a 3.72 ERA with 8.0 K/9 against 2.4 BB/9 with well above-average ground-ball tendencies in 77 1/3 innings between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse this season.
Fedde dropped out of the top 100 on MLB.com’s midseason rankings, but Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo still rank him third among Washington farmhands. Their report notes that he sits 91-94 mph with his fastball and can run his velocity a bit higher when needed. He pairs that with a plus slider, average changeup and above-average control, giving him a third starter’s ceiling, per Callis and Mayo.
While this seems like it could very well be a spot start for Strasburg, whose injury isn’t believed to be serious, there’s an obvious opening at the back of the Washington rotation as well. Joe Ross underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this month, and the Nats have since relied on veteran Edwin Jackson to make a pair of starts. Jackson has been serviceable in those two outings, but Jackson struggled with the Orioles earlier this season and hasn’t enjoyed big league success as a starting pitcher since 2012 (his last run with the Nationals).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
He better come out to some Fetty Wap
Every fetty wap song sounds the same
True but his name is Fedde which probably is pronounced Fetty lol
I still can’t believe that Josh Bell doesn’t use the Metallica song I reference in my screen name (as literature fans weep that I credit Metallica) as his walk up song.
PNC would rock.
He’s gotta walk up to hells bells
He’s black
And?
Maybe some Bell Biv Devoe?
Maybe a little less racist comments?
Skin color doesn’t affect what music you listen to doofus
Bell is a strong Christian. Doubtful he’d go for “Hell’s Bells.”
How in the world do you know that?
Previous comment was made prior to the “he’s black” comment.
I just love the song Poison!
How about Trout and Norris for Robles, Fedde, Taylor, Ross, Soto, Crowe and Kieboom.
lol
It will take multiple top prospects from multiple teams to move Trout and the teams trading prospects will have to share Mike.
Another year, another Strasburg injury. Its as right as rain.
I was starting to get worried.
Yet another arm ruined by dusty baker
You mean Strasburg? That appears a bit unfair. Did Strasburg have his TJ surgery in 2011 because he knew Dusty would manage him five years later? I have my issues with Mr. Baker but let’s keep it real.
Strasburg has had arm trouble almost every year before Baker took over. Silly comment
Nats still seemed interested in Sonny Gray, possible audition??
Want Gray? Entice A’s Billy Beane big time…
Strasburg may be put on waivers and a deal with the Yanks can happen
Maybe in your fantasy league