Nationals Reliever Ken Waldichuk Exits Early With Arm Injury Against Brewers

The Washington Nationals caught a bad break on Sunday in Milwaukee. Left-hander Ken Waldichuk didn't make it out of the seventh inning against the Brewers after suffering an arm injury mid-pitch. This is the kind of moment that makes you hold your breath in the dugout, and unfortunately for Washington, it got worse from there.

The Injury Unfolds

Waldichuk was throwing to Brice Turang when he felt something go wrong. After releasing the ball, he immediately reacted in discomfort, then pointed to his left elbow as the training staff rushed out to check on him. You could see he knew it was bad. He walked slowly back to the dugout, and Cole Henry came out of the bullpen to take over with a 2-0 count still on Turang. The batter eventually drew a walk that ended up charged to Waldichuk.

Not the Start to the Season He Needed

This is a tough blow for Waldichuk. The 28-year-old has already been dealing with serious injury history. He underwent Tommy John surgery back in May 2024 and spent all of last season rehabbing in the minor leagues, trying to find his way back to form. On Sunday, he was charged with one earned run in 1 2/3 innings of work. His ERA through five appearances this season sits at 6.75, so he was already looking to turn things around.

For a guy fighting his way back from major surgery, this setback is exactly what the Nationals didn't need right now. The hope was that Waldichuk would be a reliable arm out of the bullpen, but injuries have a way of derailing those plans fast.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.