MARCH 19, 2021 • USATODAY.COM
Lester pitches 2 innings, returns from gland removal surgery Jon Lester was back on a mound, wearing a Washington Nationals uniform while facing opposing batters for the first...
Lester pitches 2 innings, returns from gland removal surgery
Jon Lester was back on a mound, wearing a Washington Nationals uniform while facing opposing batters for the first time in spring training and striking out a couple during his two...MARCH 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Less than 2 weeks post-surgery, Lester makes Nationals debut Jon Lester was back on a mound Thursday, wearing a Washington Nationals uniform while facing opposing batters for the first time in spring t...
MARCH 18, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM
Less than 2 weeks post-surgery, Lester makes Nationals debut Jon Lester was back on a mound Thursday, wearing a Washington Nationals uniform while facing opposing batters for the first time in spring t...
MARCH 18, 2021 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM
Less than 2 weeks post-surgery, Lester makes Nationals debut Jon Lester was back on a mound Thursday, wearing a Washington Nationals uniform while facing opposing batters for the first time in spring t...
MARCH 18, 2021 • THESTAR.COM
Less than 2 weeks post-surgery, Lester makes Nationals debut Jon Lester has made his spring debut for the Washington Nationals less than two weeks after having surgery to remove...
MARCH 18, 2021 • USATODAY.COM
Less than 2 weeks post-surgery, Lester makes Nationals debut
Jon Lester has made his spring debut for the Washington Nationals less than two weeks after having surgery to remove a parathyroid glandMARCH 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Picking up start Thursday Lester (neck) will start for the Nationals in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.
Impact Lester will be making both his spring and Nationals debuts after his entry into the team's pitching schedule was delayed by the minor procedure he required earlier this month to have a thyroid gland removed. The veteran southpaw was able to throw 40 pitches in a live batting-practice session over the weekend, so he could push that count up to 50 or 60 pitches Thursday as he continues to build up ahead of Opening Day. Lester will likely begin the season as the Nats' No. 4 starter behind Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg (calf) and Patrick Corbin.
MARCH 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Soto, Turner, healthy rotation key for champ-to-chump Nats
Juan Soto and Trea Turner are expected to lead the lineup again for the Washington Nationals as they try to get back to winning baseball after tying for last place in the NL EastMARCH 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Set for start Thursday, Lester 'feels real good' WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Jon Lester is slated to make his Spring Training debut Thursday against the Mets in Port St. Lucie. The matinee sta...
MARCH 17, 2021 • MLB.COM
Spring debut could come Thursday Lester (neck) could make his spring debut against the Mets on Thursday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Impact He was up to 40 pitches in his last live batting practice session and could carry two innings in Thursday's game if he is indeed cleared to make his spring debut. Lester still has time to get ready for his first turn in the rotation, although he may not be fully stretched out for that start.
MARCH 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Throwing live batting practice Lester (neck) is throwing a session of live batting practice Sunday, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.
Impact The 37-year-old is nine days removed from undergoing surgery to address hyperparathyroidism, and he appears to be closing in on his Cactus League debut for Washington. Lester previously said he's noted an improved energy level since the procedure. The left-hander was built up to about 50 pitches before going under the knife, so it shouldn't take too long for him to get back up to speed.
MARCH 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Feels more energetic after surgery Lester says he's already noticed an improvement in his energy level since undergoing surgery for hyperparathyroidism, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports. "I feel like since I've...
Impact Doctors can't be sure when the condition began to affect him, but Lester saw his fastball velocity begin a significant decline during the 2017 season, bottoming out at an average of 89.2 mph last year. "There would be times where I would run out in the fifth, sixth, seventh inning and feel like I hit a brick wall," he said. "There were times last year where I would come out of the bullpen and be like, 'God, did I pitch the game already?' Just thinking that maybe I needed to do a little extra in the weight room, maybe I needed to run a bit more, maybe I needed to do 20 extra minutes on cardio or whatever. When in actuality, this thing was slowing me down." Lester is also 37 years old and has over 2,500 career innings under his belt, so an undiagnosed health issue likely isn't the only cause of his eroding ratios, but if the surgery does improve his overall performance, he could still be able to provide another season or two of solid numbers. If his fastball velocity seems like it's returning toward the end of spring training once he's gotten stretched out, he could be worth gambling on in deep fantasy formats.
MARCH 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
'I hit a brick wall': Sluggishness led to surgery for Lester Jon Lester could tell something wasn't right.
MARCH 10, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM
‘I hit a brick wall’: Sluggishness led to surgery for Lester Jon Lester could tell something wasn’t right.
MARCH 10, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM
'I hit a brick wall': Sluggishness led to surgery for Lester Jon Lester could tell something wasn’t right.
MARCH 10, 2021 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM
‘I hit a brick wall’: Sluggishness led to surgery for Lester Jon Lester could tell something wasn’t right.
MARCH 10, 2021 • THESTAR.COM
Jon Lester expects no lingering effects after parathyroid surgery Lester, 37, underwent the procedure last week after feeling fatigue in recent years.
MARCH 10, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM
'I hit a brick wall': Sluggishness led to surgery for Lester
Washington Nationals pitcher Jon Lester says he knew something was wrong because he felt too sluggish last season during games and even between games while he was with the Chicago...MARCH 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jon Lester's energy is up after parathyroid surgery. What that means for him and the Nationals Lester, who was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism, missed five days of workouts but won’t need long to catch up.
MARCH 10, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Springer, Bauer, Lindor lead list of big names on new teams
George Springer, Trevor Bauer and Francisco Lindor are wearing blue nowMARCH 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arihara settles into 2nd start for Rangers, 3 solid innings
Kohei Arihara bounced back from a shaky spring training debut for the Texas Rangers, pitching three innings against the Chicago CubsMARCH 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nats GM won't say why Jeffress was cut, but not for on-field
Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has declined to specify why Jeremy Jeffress was released by the teamMARCH 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Back at camp Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Lester (neck) rejoined the team for workouts Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Impact While Lester has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut, Rizzo noted that the veteran lefty had built up to 50 pitches in his throwing program before leaving the team last week to undergo a minor surgery to remove a thyroid gland. Rizzo said he would defer to Washington's coaching staff to determine Lester's availability for Opening Day, but in the absence of any physical setbacks, the 37-year-old should be ready to take the hill when his first turn in the rotation comes up during the regular season.
MARCH 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Could return Monday Lester (neck) is feeling well and could return to the Nationals as early as Monday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Impact Lester recently underwent surgery to have a thyroid gland removed, but he isn't expected to have a lengthy recovery timeline. The southpaw will visit a doctor Saturday to determine a better timetable for his return, but manager Dave Martinez was optimistic that he could be back Monday. If he returns early next week, he'd have approximately three weeks to build up ahead of Opening Day.
MARCH 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
