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The Washington Nationals’ trade of Foster Griffin to the Cleveland Guardians initially appeared underwhelming, as Paul Toboni opted for a quantity-heavy return rather than high-profile prospects. However, the transaction has gained positive traction largely due to the strong performance of Will Dion following his arrival in Washington.
The Rise of Multi-Inning Relievers
Across Major League Baseball, multi-inning relievers have surged in prominence, proving critical during recent postseason runs. The Milwaukee Brewers leaned extensively on their bullpen to secure a championship, utilizing pitchers like Aaron Ashby and DL Hall to cover multiple frames throughout the playoffs.
While it lacks glamour, this multi-inning relief role is precisely what Dion handled for the Nationals down the stretch. Across 15 appearances, he logged 30 innings, handling outings that ranged from recording a single out to throwing as many as 4.1 innings.
Unlocking Success with a Unique Fastball
Stabilizing a bullpen that required immediate assistance, Dion posted a 3.00 ERA while striking out 30 batters in his 30 innings of work. Those strikeout figures stand out given his lack of elite velocity, as his fastball averaged just 91.1 MPH this season. Even so, opponents batted only .198 against the pitch, and Dion collected 31 of his 55 total strikeouts using the heater.
Dion achieves this success through an extreme over-the-top release point that generates exceptional carry on his fastball. Averaging 20 inches of induced vertical break, his fastball ranks among the best marks in the league, creating an illusion that causes hitters to misjudge the pitch and swing underneath it.
Arsenal Adjustments and Future Outlook
Upon joining Washington, the team implemented a strategic adjustment that unlocked Dion’s potential by significantly increasing his changeup usage. Previously thrown about 15% of the time, his changeup usage spiked to 37.6% in August before settling at 24.4% in September.
Operating 13 MPH slower than his fastball at 78 MPH, the changeup pairs effectively with his rising heater to disrupt timing, holding opponents to a .119 batting average with a 33% whiff rate. Complementing these pitches, Dion also mixes in a curveball roughly 20% of the time primarily to steal strikes early in counts.
Although his velocity limits his overall ceiling, Dion has established himself as a reliable multi-inning option who will share heavy bullpen workloads with Brad Lord next season. If Dion maintains his late-season performance, the Foster Griffin trade will stand as a shrewd move that secured a functional bullpen piece for the franchise moving forward.
