Washington Nationals Sign Flame-Throwing Pitcher

The Washington Nationals have recently made a move to bolster their roster by bringing in reliever Junior Fernández through a minor league contract.

This acquisition comes following Fernández's stint with the Toronto Blue Jays' system during the 2023 season, where his performance showcased a mixture of potential and inconsistency.

#BlueJays Avg Fastball (MPH)
2023 Spring Training (*tracked pitches)

1. Nate Pearson 98.5
2. Ricky Tiedemann 98.3
3. Junior Fernandez 97.5
4. Jordan Romano, Julian Fernandez, Hagen Danner 96.7
7. Yosver Zulueta 96.3

Just a bunch of pure 🔥⚾️ gonna start the year @BuffaloBisons pic.twitter.com/I2IRYzSUtR

— Chris Black (@DownToBlack) March 5, 2023

Over the course of 42 games for Buffalo, Fernández struggled to maintain a strong ERA, posting a figure of 5.69.

Despite this, the 26-year-old right-handed pitcher is not without his strengths. He is recognized for his upper-90s sinker, a pitch that has proven effective in inducing ground balls.

Notably, Fernández displayed promise in the previous season, managing an impressive 2.41 ERA across 18.2 innings of major league play.

The Nationals sign Junior Fernandez to a minor league deal

Dude throws heat

pic.twitter.com/ZNS0gd7TRd

— Kev (@OnePursuitTakes) August 29, 2023

With his arrival in the Nationals' organization, there is a hope that a change of scenery and coaching could lead to an improvement in his performance.

The Nationals are likely eyeing him as organizational depth, but also potentially considering him for a bullpen role at the major league level should he make his way onto the 40-man roster. Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports