Washington Nationals southpaw Jon Lester is leaving the spring training camp to have surgery to remove his thyroid gland, said coach Dave Martinez on Wednesday.
Lester, 37, would travel from West Palm Beach, Fla., To New York for the procedure.
“I hope he can launch again in about a week,” Martinez said in a video conference with reporters ahead of Washington’s exhibition game against Miami Marlins. “We want him to take care of it now, so it’s not a problem.”
Martinez said that Nacional “still has plans, from now on, to start the season with us on the scheduled day, but we will have to see – after this procedure is done – how he is feeling”.
In 2006, Lester’s debut season at the Boston Red Sox ended early because he was diagnosed with a form of lymphoma.
He underwent chemotherapy treatments and returned to the Red Sox in spring training before the following season.
Lester is entering his 16th year in the majors and the first in Washington. He was a free agent and joined the Nationals on a $ 5 million one-year contract after playing the past six seasons with the Chicago Cubs.
The starting pitcher was scheduled to make his first appearance for Washington in a Grapefruit League game on Thursday.
But Martinez said that after the results of the additional tests arrived, a decision was made on Tuesday for Lester to have the surgery.
He said that Lester was feeling tired.
“This is the big problem. I think that when they disclose that, it will have a lot more energy throughout the day,” said the manager. “I hope it works for him. Really. He is a big part of what we do here and we love having him. He is working hard, day after day, and I know he will help us.”
Washington added Lester to a star-studded spin that already included three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg and southpaw Patrick Corbin.
Grades:
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RF Juan Soto was on Wednesday’s lineup for his debut in the show, beating in second place, behind CF Victor Robles and ahead of SS Trea Turner.
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Martinez said the team will use a series of relievers on Thursday.