LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Even though he has not felt any discomfort this spring, Monday still represented a significant step for right-hander Erick Fedde. This was the first time Fedde appeared in a game since he was shut down late last September with a forearm flexor strain.
Fedde, the Nats' top pitching prospect, cleared the test during his two innings on the mound in Washington's 2-1 loss to the Braves at Champion Field. He admitted he was a bit unsettled as he gave up a run on four hits with a walk and a strikeout, but his fastball velocity was back to normal, sitting in the mid 90s, after a brief dip last season preceding his shutdown.