Nationals release former Dodgers pitcher

The Washington Nationals released right-handed pitcher Julian Fernandez Wednesday after he cleared waivers, following his designation for assignment last week and removal from the 40-man roster.

Fernandez had been on the minor league injured list at Triple-A Rochester with an undisclosed injury at the time of the move. Because he was injured, he could not be outrighted through waivers, and Washington initially attempted to find a trade partner, but no deal materialized. He has now been cut loose after passing through waivers unclaimed.

The 30-year-old has appeared in parts of three major league seasons, including 2026, but has pitched only 15 2/3 innings in the majors. In that stretch, he allowed 14 runs (12 earned) on 15 hits and eight walks while striking out 12 batters. Five of the 15 hits he has given up were home runs.

Fernandez was once a promising prospect, originally selected by the San Francisco Giants from the Colorado Rockies in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft after an age-21 season in A-ball. He missed that entire year due to a UCL tear in spring training and spent the season on the 60-day injured list. He was later claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins and eventually returned to Colorado after failing to meet Rule 5 requirements, also missing the 2019 season.

Fernandez did not pitch in the minors for three years due to injuries and the canceled 2020 minor league season. In 2021, he finished with a 2.53 ERA with a 23.7% strikeout rate and 9.0% walk rate over 42 2/3 innings across Double-A and Triple-A, and made his MLB debut that year.

Fernandez later faded in the minors during 2022-23 with the Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays, spent 2024 pitching in Mexico, and returned in limited MLB action with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Nationals last season. At Triple-A, he recorded a 4.17 ERA with a 28.5% strikeout rate and 7.7% walk rate in 54 innings, including a 3.27 ERA over 11 innings before his injury.

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