DJ Herz

DJ Herz

25-Year-Old PitcherSP
Washington Nationals
60-Day IL
Injury Elbow
Est. Return 7/1/2026
2026 Fantasy Outlook
Herz entered last season coming off a promising debut campaign in 2024, when he posted a 4-9 record (19 starts) with a 4.16 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 106:36 K:BB across 88.2 major-league innings. Unfortunately, after struggling in spring training and opening the 2025 season in Triple-A, his year was cut short in mid-April after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He's unlikely to be available to pitch for the Nationals until around the All-Star break in 2026, and there may not be a clear path to a spot on the major-league roster when he returns from his rehab assignment. When healthy in 2024, Herz finished in the top quarter of the majors in whiff rate (29.3 percent), strikeout rate (27.7 percent), xERA (3.29) and xBA (.207), though he was well below league average in GB rate (36.9 percent) and BB rate (9.4 percent). Those numbers make Herz an interesting stash option in the hopes that he makes his way back to the majors in 2026. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
From Preseason
#362
ADP
$Signed a one-year contract with the Nationals in March of 2025.
In midst of throwing program
PWashington Nationals
Elbow
March 4, 2026
The Nationals announced Wednesday that Herz (elbow) is continuing to progress in his throwing program, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Analysis
Back on Feb. 21, MLB.com reported that Herz had been playing catch at a distance up to 150 feet, but it's unclear if he remains limited to throwing off flat ground or if he's since graduated to throwing off a mound. Regardless, after landing on the 60-day injured list, Herz is slated to miss the first two months of the 2026 campaign -- and likely some additional time beyond that -- while he continues to work his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent April 16, 2025.
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Pitching Stats
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2025
2024
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2024 MLB Game Log
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Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-8%
BAA vs RHP
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
-8%
BAA vs RHP
2023
No Stats
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2023vs Left .238 92 23 8 19 2 0 3
Since 2023vs Right .219 290 83 28 57 9 1 8
2025vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Left .238 92 23 8 19 2 0 3
2024vs Right .219 290 83 28 57 9 1 8
2023vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-30%
ERA at Home
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
-30%
ERA at Home
2023
No Stats
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2023Home 3.61 1.24 57.1 3 6 0 10.8 3.5 0.8
Since 2023Away 5.17 1.31 31.1 1 3 0 10.6 4.0 1.7
2025Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Home 3.61 1.24 57.1 3 6 0 10.8 3.5 0.8
2024Away 5.17 1.31 31.1 1 3 0 10.6 4.0 1.7
2023Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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Prospect Rankings History
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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2025 Fantasy Outlook
Herz burst onto the scene for the Nationals in his third career start in June when he fanned 13 batters while yielding just one hit over six shutout innings against the Marlins. The left-hander added another double-digit strikeout game in July and finished his rookie season with an impressive 27.8 percent strikeout rate. The biggest knock on Herz as a prospect was his lack of control, as he's handed out free passes at an ugly 15.4 percent clip in the minors. He got that rate down to 9.4 percent in 19 starts with the Nats, which is still high but acceptable when paired with the swing-and-miss. Herz's four-seamer, changeup and slider made up 97 percent of his pitches in 2024 and all three offerings produced the exact same .283 xwOBA, which is excellent. There's blowup risk with the 24-year-old, but he has real upside if he can keep the walks to a dull roar.
More Fantasy News
Placed on 60-day IL
PWashington Nationals
Elbow
February 11, 2026
The Nationals placed Herz (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis
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Gets Tommy John surgery Wednesday
PWashington Nationals
Elbow
April 16, 2025
Nationals manager Dave Martinez confirmed that Herz (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday in Dallas, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis
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Headed for Tommy John surgery
PWashington Nationals
Elbow
April 16, 2025
Herz (elbow) plans to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, TalkNats.com reports.
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Getting second opinion on elbow
PWashington Nationals
Elbow
March 27, 2025
Herz will receive a second opinion on his injured left elbow from Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
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Moved to 60-day IL
PWashington Nationals
Elbow
March 26, 2025
The Nationals transferred Herz (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
Analysis
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