Nats RHP Barrett blames elbow surgery on being overworked

WASHINGTON (AP) Nationals reliever Aaron Barrett blames being overworked for his right elbow problems that led to Tommy John surgery.

Barrett said Sunday at Washington's fan festival that ''the bottom line was I was literally just throwing too much.''

He used a motorized scooter and crutch Sunday because he had an operation to remove bone spurs and bone chips from his left ankle 10 days ago.

Barrett had reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow in September. He appeared in 30 of Washington's first 60 games last season and estimates that during that span he was told to warm up in the bullpen during another 15 games he didn't enter.

Explained Barrett: ''Just basically warming up, not going into the game, then pitching the next game, and then warming up in the sixth inning and then the seventh inning and then pitching in the eighth inning.''