Biography
José Alexander Ferrer (born March 3, 2000) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Ferrer signed with the Nationals as an international free agent in 2017. He made his MLB debut in 2023.
Career
Ferrer signed with the Washington Nationals as an international free agent on July 2, 2017. He made his professional debut in 2018 with the Dominican Summer League Nationals, posting a 3.60 ERA across 14 relief outings. In 2019, Ferrer spent the year with the rookie–level Gulf Coast Nationals. He pitched in 9 games (2 starts) and registered a 2.91 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 21+2⁄3 innings pitched.
Ferrer did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned to action in 2021 with the rookie–level Florida Complex League Nationals, pitching to a 2.78 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 17 games.
In 2022, Ferrer split the season between the Double–A Harrisburg Senators, High–A Wilmington Blue Rocks, and Single–A Fredericksburg Nationals. He made 48 combined appearances between the three affiliates, recording a 2.48 ERA with 78 strikeouts and 11 saves across 65+1⁄3 innings of work. He was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.
On November 15, 2022, the Nationals added Ferrer to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Ferrer was optioned to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings to begin the 2023 season. In 34 appearances in Triple A, he registered a 3.83 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 40.0 innings pitched.
On June 30, 2023, Ferrer was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. In 39 relief appearances in the major leagues in 2023, he was 3-0 with a 5.03 ERA, and 25 strikeouts in 34 innings.
Ferrer was placed on the 60–day injured list to begin the 2024 season after suffering a strain in the teres major muscle in his right shoulder. He was activated from the injured list on July 19, 2024.