NEW YORK, N.Y. - As Josiah Gray wraps up a month-long rehab assignment, interim manager Miguel Cairo made it clear what he hopes to see before the offseason begins: the right-hander back in the Nationals’ clubhouse — and perhaps even on the mound in Washington.
“I would love to see him to come to Washington and be with us,” Cairo said this afternoon before today's game against the New York Mets. “He’s part of the team; he’s been doing rehab. But it would be nice to see him over there in Washington with us.”
Gray threw 45 pitches Friday night for Triple-A Rochester, working 2 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings while walking three and striking out two. That outing closed the book on his three-start rehab assignment, which stretched over three minor league levels and ended with an encouraging stat line: 6 2/3 total innings, zero runs allowed, four hits, five walks and five strikeouts.
With the Washington Nationals minor league season now ending, though, Gray has no further rehab games available. The only next step would be activation off the 60-day injured list and a return to the Nationals’ roster for next weekend’s final series against the White Sox. Cairo acknowledged the club has not yet decided on that outcome.
“We’re seeing what we’re going to do,” he said. “We’ll wait to see. And as soon as I know, I will let you know.”
Though Gray has kept runs off the board, questions remain about his readiness to handle a big league assignment. His average fastball velocity sat around 90 mph in his Rochester outing, still down from the 93–94 mph he consistently showed before undergoing elbow surgery. That’s not uncommon in the first stages of a pitcher’s return, and Gray may simply need a full offseason and spring to regain both strength and command.
That leaves Nationals officials torn: would a major league outing give Gray and the organization peace of mind heading into winter, or would it risk exposing him to unnecessary strain before 2026?
For Cairo, this isn’t just a tactical issue. It’s also about reestablishing Gray’s role in the clubhouse. After months of solo rehab away from his teammates, a few days back in Nationals Park could help him reconnect before the long offseason ahead.
“Hopefully, we get to see him,” Cairo said. “He’s part of this group, and it would mean something to have him here at the end.”
The decision to let Gray pitch one final game in 2025 will ultimately rest on organizational caution versus competitive appetite. What matters, Cairo insists, is ensuring that Gray enters 2026 ready to contribute as a healthy, confident rotation piece.
Whether he takes the mound against the White Sox or simply sits with his teammates in the dugout, one thing is clear: Josiah Gray remains central to the Nationals’ future, and Cairo wants him to feel that way now.