Bryce Montes de Oca: Everything you need to know

Montes de Oca (elbow) faced live hitters during Wednesday's full-squad workout. Montes de Oca looks to be free of restrictions this spring after he missed the entire 2025 season while he was on the mend from his second career Tommy John surgery, which he underwent late in 2024. The 29-year-old right-hander signed a minor-league deal with the Nationals in January and is likely to open the season in the Triple-A Rochester bullpen.

The Nationals signed Montes de Oca (elbow) to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training. Montes de Oca has thrown a total of just 10 innings over the last three seasons due to a pair of Tommy John surgeries, and it's not clear whether he will be ready to go at the beginning of spring training. The big right-hander boasts a 31.9 percent strikeout rate during his time in the minors and fanned six batters in 3.1 innings with the Mets in 2022, so there's bat-missing ability if he's able to stay healthy and throw strikes.

Montes de Oca underwent a second Tommy John surgery toward the end of last year's minor-league season, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports. De Oca had his first Tommy John surgery in March of 2023 and needed the operation again less than two years later. The 28-year-old made only 13 appearances in 2024 after not making any in 2023, and he's now looking at another lost season. De Oca has a 31.9 percent strikeout rate during his time in the minors and fanned six batters in 3.1 innings with the Mets in 2022, but he also had a career 18.1 percent walk rate in the minors and a lengthy injury history. The odds are stacked against him making it back to the big leagues.