Davey Martinez, the manager of the Washington Nationals, had high hopes for reliever Tanner Rainey's return from Tommy John surgery in the 2024 Spring Training. However, as the season progressed, Rainey's journey back to form proved to be a challenging one, marked by setbacks and a gradual, yet determined, climb towards regaining his pre-injury dominance.

Overcoming the Odds: Rainey's Comeback Saga

Slow Start, Steady Progress

Early in the season, Martinez acknowledged that Rainey's velocity was not quite where the team had hoped it would be. The skipper noted that Rainey's fastball was still in the low to mid-90s, and his command and pitch selection were not yet where they needed to be. Despite the initial struggles, Martinez remained optimistic, stating that they would ease Rainey into lower-leverage situations to allow him to build up his strength and confidence.As the season progressed, Rainey's numbers reflected the challenges he faced. By the end of April, he had a 9.82 ERA, an 8.26 WHIP, and a .404/.508/.692 line against in his first 11 games and 11 innings pitched. Martinez emphasized that Rainey was missing his locations, often leaving pitches right down the middle of the plate, and was not utilizing his slider as much as the team had hoped.

Mechanical Adjustments and Patience

Undeterred, the Nationals' coaching staff, led by Pitching Coach Jim Hickey and Pitching Strategist Sean Doolittle, worked closely with Rainey to address the mechanical issues that were hindering his performance. Martinez noted that they were "tinkering around with a little bit of his mechanics, trying to get him to stay in his legs a little bit more" to help him regain his command and consistency.The manager praised Rainey's resilience, describing him as a "bulldog" who was eager to get back on the mound and contribute to the team's success. Despite the setbacks, Martinez remained committed to Rainey, stating that they would continue to work with him and not give up on him, as he was a crucial part of the Nationals' bullpen.

Gradual Improvement and Increased Opportunities

As the season progressed, Rainey's velocity began to tick up, with Martinez noting that they would see him reach 94-95 mph at times. However, the manager emphasized that Rainey needed to focus on his pitch selection and location, rather than solely relying on velocity.In May, Rainey made just three appearances as the team continued to work with him to find the right balance and consistency. Martinez praised Rainey's improved performance in a May 19th outing, noting that his velocity was up and that he had thrown the ball well, despite some mistakes that led to hard contact.As the season wore on, Martinez slowly increased Rainey's workload, recognizing the importance of getting him more competitive innings to help him regain his rhythm and confidence. By August, after some trades at the deadline, Martinez began to use Rainey in more high-leverage situations, acknowledging that the reliever had "done it before" and was starting to understand how to pitch effectively without his pre-injury velocity.

Rainey's Resurgence and Closing the Season Strong

By mid-September, Martinez was pleased with Rainey's progress, noting that the right-hander's velocity had ticked up, his slider had improved, and he was "pitching a lot better." The manager expressed confidence in Rainey's ability to contribute in more high-leverage situations, but also emphasized the importance of allowing him to finish the season feeling good about himself and his progress.In the end, Rainey finished the year with the second-most appearances of his career (50) and posted a 2.84 ERA (12 ER/38.0 IP) with 35 strikeouts and a .182 opponents' batting average in 37 games from May 21 through the end of the season. Martinez praised the team's patient approach, stating that it had paid dividends for Rainey's recovery and that they were confident in his ability to continue his upward trajectory heading into the offseason and the 2025 season.