WASHINGTON -- Washington Nationals reliever Aaron Barrett blames being overworked for his right elbow problems, which led to Tommy John surgery.

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

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

Aaron Barrett, who appeared in 30 of Washington's first 60 games last season, had Tommy John surgery in September. Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports

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.

The way those appearances were handled led to him throwing many pitches, 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."