Davey Martinez had a message for Trevor Rosenthal when he sent the Nationals’ reliever out on Friday night in the highest leverage situation the veteran reliever had been used in since returning to Washington’s bullpen following a stint on the Injured List.
“‘This is your moment,’” Martinez said. “‘Enjoy it.’”
Rosenthal, 29, faced 10 batters to start this season before he recorded an out, and he went on the 10-Day Injured List with a viral infection back on April 26th, at which point the seven-year veteran, who signed a 1-year/$8M free agent deal this winter, after working his way back from Tommy John surgery in 2017, had given up seven hits, nine walks, and 12 runs, all earned, in seven games and three innings pitched, over which he’d also hit three batters and thrown five wild pitches.