DJ Herz - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor hits 300th home run in season finale

Francisco Lindor hit his 300th home run in the second inning of the New York Mets’ season finale against the Washington Nationals

SEPTEMBER 27 • Associated Press

17 months later, Herz is back where he belongs DETROIT -- The last 17 months culminated in one moment at 6:46 p.m. ET on Monday evening. DJ Herz emerged from the steps of the visitors' du...

SEPTEMBER 22 • MLB.COM

Charged with loss in season debut Herz (0-1) took the loss Monday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over four innings against the Tigers. He struck out four.

Impact Herz ran into trouble early, surrendering a pair of runs in the first inning and two more runs in the fourth before departing at 63 pitches (39 strikes). While the results were uneven, it was a positive step for the southpaw to be back on a big-league mound for the first time since 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2025. The 25-year-old is tentatively scheduled to take the ball again Sunday against the Mets to close the regular season, potentially with a slightly elevated workload.

SEPTEMBER 22 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals Surprisingly Release Former Top Pitching Prospect After Activating DJ Herz As expected, left-hander DJ Herz is set to make his return for the Washington Nationals on Monday. Following a lengthy absence due to Tommy...

SEPTEMBER 21 • SI.COM

Activated ahead of Monday's start The Nationals activated Herz (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Monday.

Impact Herz is set to start Monday's game against the Tigers in what will be his first appearance at the major-league level since 2024, as he's completed the long road back from April 2025 Tommy John surgery. The left-hander made 10 rehab starts, posting a 3.16 ERA and 30:7 K:BB over 25.2 innings. Herz threw 4.1 innings and 65 pitches in his last start Sept. 11, so he'll be on a relatively limited workload versus the Tigers.

SEPTEMBER 21 • ROTOWIRE

Set to be activated Monday Herz (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list and start Monday's contest against the Tigers, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Impact Herz will make his return to the major-league roster after being sidelined since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2025. The southpaw combined to pitch 18 innings, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 15 hits and seven walks while striking out 19 batters in seven outings since resuming his minor-league rehab assignment in early August. Herz last pitched Sept. 11, tossing 65 pitches in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Rochester, and he'll likely be on some sort of pitch count in his return to the majors.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Capped at two innings again in rehab Herz (elbow) struck out two and allowed one hit and two walks over two scoreless innings in a rehab start Thursday with Double-A Harrisburg.

Impact After Herz underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2025 and then suffered a left flexor strain in late June, the Nationals have been having him ramp up slowly since he started up a new rehab assignment earlier this month. Through three outings between Single-A Fredericksburg and Harrisburg, Herz has yet to permit a run, but he's been limited to one, two and two innings in those appearances. The 33 pitches he threw Thursday marked a new high total for Herz, but he'll likely need to push that count up to the 70-to-80 range before becoming a viable option for the Washington rotation.

AUGUST 21 • ROTOWIRE

Fires two innings in rehab start Herz (elbow) struck out two over two perfect innings in his rehab start Friday with Double-A Harrisburg.

Impact Since restarting his rehab assignment earlier this month after recovering from a flexor strain, Herz has piled up five strikeouts over three scoreless frames. Before bringing Herz back from the 60-day injured list, the Nationals are likely to have him build up gradually over at least two more rehab appearances, as the left-hander previously underwent Tommy John surgery last April. Depending on how he fares in subsequent outings in the minors, Herz could have a spot in the rotation waiting for him once he's activated.

AUGUST 16 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals Get Great Injury Updates on James Wood, DJ Herz, Josiah Gray and More The Washington Nationals have ushered in some change to finish the 2026 regular season. Their first move was to part ways with veteran right...

AUGUST 15 • SI.COM

Herz efficient with two perfect innings in Double-A rehab outing NEW YORK -- Left-hander DJ Herz went six up, six down in his second rehab assignment outing on Friday night with Double-A Harrisburg. Herz i...

AUGUST 15 • MLB.COM

DJ Herz Shines in First Start After Nationals Cleared Him to Resume Rehab Assignment At the beginning of this year, it seemed like the Washington Nationals were going to get left-handed pitcher DJ Herz back at some point duri...

AUGUST 9 • SI.COM

Cleared to resume rehab assignment Herz (elbow) will resume his rehab assignment with Single-A Fredericksburg on Saturday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

Impact Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Herz had made three rehab starts before he encountered a setback in late June with a left flexor strain. The southpaw logged a 1.17 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB in 7.2 innings on his rehab assignment before getting hurt, so he'll be looking to pick up where he left off. Herz might not rejoin the Nationals until September, if at all, this season, as he still has a ways to go in terms of rebuilding stamina.

AUGUST 6 • ROTOWIRE

Injured Nationals Pitcher Trevor Williams Made His Return to Mound With Mixed Results The Washington Nationals need pitching from anywhere they can get it right now. It seemed like left-hander DJ Herz was going to be the first...

JUNE 29 • SI.COM

Herz sustains flexor muscle strain while on rehab assignment WASHINGTON – During his rehab assignment, DJ Herz suffered a setback in his recovery from a left UCL sprain. The left-hander has been shut d...

JUNE 22 • MLB.COM

Nationals Pitcher DJ Herz Suffers Key Injury Setback on Rehab Assignment There was some unfortunate news for the Washington Nationals revealed on Sunday. Left-handed pitcher DJ Herz, who was scheduled to make a st...

JUNE 22 • SI.COM

Diagnosed with flexor strain Herz (elbow) has been diagnosed with a left flexor strain, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Impact It's a significant setback for Herz, who has been working his way back from April 2025 Tommy John surgery. The left-hander posted a 1.17 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB in 7.2 innings covering his first three rehab starts, potentially setting him up for activation around the All-Star break. Now, Herz is out indefinitely.

JUNE 22 • ROTOWIRE

Suffers setback in rehab Nationals manager Blake Butera said that Herz (elbow) won't make a rehab start Sunday with Single-A Fredericksburg as planned after experiencing forearm tightness following his mos...

Impact Just over 15 months removed from Tommy John surgery, Herz had shown well over his first three rehab starts between Fredericksburg and the rookie-level Florida Complex League, turning in a 1.17 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB in 7.2 innings. The southpaw's strong start to his rehab assignment appeared to put him in consideration for a spot in the big-league rotation upon his return from the 60-day injured list, but the setback with his surgically repaired elbow will muddle his outlook. In all likelihood, Herz will be shut down at least a couple of weeks to recover from the forearm injury before resuming his rehab assignment.

JUNE 21 • ROTOWIRE

Herz takes big step in TJ rehab with 1st Single-A start WASHINGTON -- For the past 17 months, each day DJ Herz spent at the Nationals' training complex recovering from Tommy John surgery felt like...

JUNE 17 • MLB.COM

Nearly perfect through two starts Herz struck out four batters over three scoreless innings in his second rehab start Thursday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Impact On the comeback trail following April 2025 Tommy John surgery, Herz hasn't exhibited any sign of rust through his first two rehab starts. He's struck out eight over five scoreless frames in the FCL thus far, with the lone baserunner he's allowed reaching on a fielding error. The left-hander is expected to need the full 30-day rehab window to build up his pitch count, so he'll likely make three more starts in the minors before returning from the 60-day injured list and potentially entering the Washington rotation.

JUNE 11 • ROTOWIRE

Ready for rehab assignment Herz (elbow) was sent to the FCL Nationals on Friday to begin a rehab assignment.

Impact Herz is ready to pitch in a game for the first time since April 2025 Tommy John surgery. The left-hander will need to use most, if not all, of his allotted 30 days on a rehab assignment, and it's not a given he'll rejoin the major-league club immediately after being activated. Herz is an intriguing long-term arm, however, after striking out 106 over 88.2 innings covering 19 starts for the Nationals in 2024.

JUNE 5 • ROTOWIRE

Facing hitters Herz (elbow) will throw to live hitters Friday at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Impact It's a big milestone for Herz, who will be facing hitters for the first time since he had Tommy John surgery last April. A rehab assignment shouldn't be too far off for the lefty, and Herz is likely looking at a return around midseason if his rehab continues at its current trajectory.

MAY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Back on mound Friday Herz (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact It's the first time the left-hander has thrown from the bump since he underwent Tommy John surgery last April. Herz has already been placed on the 60-day injured list, and given where he is in his throwing program, a return around midseason is probably a best-case scenario.

MARCH 13 • ROTOWIRE

In midst of throwing program The Nationals announced Wednesday that Herz (elbow) is continuing to progress in his throwing program, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact Back on Feb. 21, MLB.com reported that Herz had been playing catch at a distance up to 150 feet, but it's unclear if he remains limited to throwing off flat ground or if he's since graduated to throwing off a mound. Regardless, after landing on the 60-day injured list, Herz is slated to miss the first two months of the 2026 campaign -- and likely some additional time beyond that -- while he continues to work his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent April 16, 2025.

MARCH 4 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on 60-day IL The Nationals placed Herz (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact The move clears a spot on Washington's 40-man roster for Miles Mikolas, who signed a one-year deal with the club Wednesday. It's unclear how close Herz is to beginning a throwing program after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April, but he could be ready to make his season debut near the All-Star break.

FEBRUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals and White Sox meet in series rubber match

The Washington Nationals and Chicago White Sox play on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game series

SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 • Associated Press

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New York Mets' Francisco Lindor hits 300th home run in season finale

Nationals and White Sox meet in series rubber match