The Washington Nationals were back at Nationals Park on Saturday morning, and they might be getting their starting center fielder back earlier than expected.
Manager Matt Williams said Denard Span played in a minor-league game on Saturday, his first live action since undergoing abdominal surgery March 9. He took a full session of batting practice and played three innings in center field.
“Just getting his legs underneath him,” Williams said. “Kind of the same schedule that Jayson [Werth] has been on, and he’ll progress to batting in the game. But today was an opportunity for him to get out there and play some outfield and get going in that regard. So, good report.”
Before Saturday’s game, Williams said Span was scheduled to receive a couple at-bats in the minor-league game. Though the 31-year-old did not end up stepping into the box, Williams said Span did not experience any sort of pregame setback.
“He’s just making sure he’s ready,” Williams said.
Before Friday’s exhibition game against the New York Yankees, Span went through a usual pregame routine, taking a full session of batting practice and tracking fly balls in the outfield while others hit. Though Span told Williams he was “a little tired” following the experience, it was an encouraging sign.
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Williams admitted Span is on “an aggressive schedule.” At the time of Span’s surgery, he was expected to be out four to six weeks before resuming baseball activity, let alone taking at-bats in games. Monday will be the four-week mark, putting Span solidly ahead of schedule.
With that said, the Nationals are also preaching caution. In addition to the abdominal surgery, Span had sports hernia surgery in December.
“I think with that injury and what they had to do, I think it’s up to him,” Williams said. “When he was hitting before he had the [second] surgery, he didn’t have issue with swinging the bat. What he had issues with was the explosion, whether it’s defense or running the bases or whatever. So he’s been doing all that. He’s been on the bases, he’s been doing the starts and stops and all the stuff he’s got to do in his rehab. At this point, I think it’s about playing in games. He’s normal spring training at this point, I think.”
Werth eyes early return
Left fielder Jayson Werth will likely not be in Washington’s starting lineup on Opening Day, but he could return as early as next week, when the team plays the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Williams said Werth played five innings and got four at-bats in a minor-league game Friday and continues to progress in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery. Werth is having no problems running and fielding, according to Williams, and simply needs to feel comfortable at the plate before rejoining the Nationals.
“It’s a question of him getting at-bats and getting timing,” Williams said. “It may be just a touch off still, but for the first week, there’s a possibility of that, yes. Barring any type of setback of course.”
Storen available to pitch
After giving the blister on his right foot sufficient time to heal, Drew Storen returned to the mound Saturday, facing four batters and drawing the losing decision in Washington’s 4-3 exhibition loss to the Yankees.
Storen allowed two hits and two runs, including one earned run, and recorded one out before promptly leaving the game. Though his outing didn’t go as planned, the closer was pleased that the blister did not present any issues.
“Felt really good,” he said. “I was honestly doing anything I could to try to make it hurt, pushing and grinding off of it. You get up here, you get on the really good mound, [it’s] a little stickier, little firmer than our spring training mound. That’s the true test. So I was really bumping and grinding on it, but it felt good. I wanted to do that today so it’s not an issue.”
Storen is expected to be available on Opening Day, or shortly thereafter.
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
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