An MLB debut can be daunting for a pitcher, no matter the opponent. But Mitchell Parker is slated to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in his first start with the Washington Nationals on Monday night. That makes things especially tough.
Those three give the most experienced of pitchers fits, let alone a rookie.
“I gave myself a couple minutes, but I’m trying not to overthink anything,” Parker said Sunday. “Just trying to get out there and do a job for the team. That’s all we really want to do.”
That’s about as good of a response as you could expect from Parker, whom the Nationals selected in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. He finished last season with Class AAA Rochester and was protected from the Rule 5 draft in December.
He impressed during spring training but has made just one start this year for Rochester, which has had its schedule disrupted by rain. Still, in that April 6 outing, he gave up just one unearned run in four innings.
Parker’s arrival now is somewhat unlikely; he made just three starts at Class AAA in 2023, posting a 10.45 ERA. And Rochester right-handers Jackson Rutledge and Joan Adon have big league experience.
But necessity thrust Parker into the mix sooner than expected. The first domino fell Tuesday, when righty Josiah Gray went on the 15-day injured list with a strained right flexor muscle, creating a hole in the rotation.
Adon filled in that day but was optioned back to Rochester afterward. Catcher Drew Millas was recalled to take Adon’s roster spot and start Wednesday; Millas replaced Keibert Ruiz, who has been dealing with the flu. The Nationals thought Ruiz could play by Friday, so they sent Millas back down after Wednesday’s game. But Ruiz’s illness sidelined him through the weekend.
So both Millas and Parker were recalled from Rochester before Monday’s game, with Ruiz being placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Friday. Also, third baseman Nick Senzel was reinstated from the IL after fracturing his thumb ahead of the season opener. Infielder Trey Lipscomb, who hit .225 in 14 games filling in for Senzel, was sent to Rochester.
A position player must spend 10 days in the minors before he can be called up again unless he is being promoted for a doubleheader or is filling in for a player on the injured list. The latter caveat allowed the Nationals to bring back Millas — the only catcher on the 40-man roster beyond Ruiz and Riley Adams — to replace Ruiz. A pitcher must remain in the minors for 15 days, so that ruled out Adon for Monday night. Rutledge was hit by a comebacker Thursday and needed help getting off the field — but even before that, Manager Dave Martinez said he wanted Rutledge to make a few more starts in Class AAA to find his rhythm.
So that made Parker the choice for Monday. He expected to have eight friends and family members in attendance for his debut.
Parker uses three pitches — a fastball, a curveball and a splitter. His fastball and curveball complement each other well. This spring, Parker said he spent the offseason working to improve the splitter, which he called a “hit or miss” pitch a season ago. MLB Pipeline rates him the Nationals’ 21st-best prospect.
“He’s very composed,” Martinez said. “He’s got a good mix of pitches. So he’s going to go out there and hopefully keep us in the game.”
Perhaps Parker can look to righty Jake Irvin for inspiration. Irvin was called up last season after just five starts in Class AAA but did enough to cement a spot in Washington’s rotation.
Parker is likely to have a tougher time sticking around because he’s replacing Gray, an all-star last season. But Monday is his first chance to prove he belongs. He’ll try to treat it like any other game.
“Just trying to process it,” he said Sunday. “And then making sure when we go outside to play catch, just look around a little more — I mean, first big league stadium. And tomorrow will be the first start, so just trying to take it all in and make sure to breathe.”
Celebrating No. 42
Before Monday’s game at Dodger Stadium, the Nationals and Dodgers gathered by the Jackie Robinson statue beyond center field for a ceremony honoring the player who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts emceed the program, eventually passing the mic to Martinez. Martinez thanked Robinson for paving the way not just for Black players but for Hispanic players such as himself and his idol, Roberto Clemente.
Seven-time MLB all-star Reggie Smith, who played from 1966 to 1982 (including six seasons with the Dodgers), and civil rights activist Harry Edwards also spoke at the event.
