PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Nationals leadoff hitter and center fielder Denard Span made a quick return to Nationals camp, showing up Thursday, a day early, though his return to the field will still be a ways off.
Span had surgery Monday to repair a slight tear in the rectus abdominal muscle, which runs vertically on each side of the anterior wall in the abdomen. He also had surgery in December to repair a sports hernia.
Monday’s surgery was brief, according to Nationals manager Matt Williams. Span relayed to his manager that the arthroscopic procedure lasted between 30-40 minutes. There is a slight wound on Span’s right side.
“He feels great,” Williams said. “He feels better this time than he did the first time. Probably part of that is knowing what to expect. He’s starting his rehab process. It’s small stuff right now, simply walking around to make sure it doesn’t get too tight on him. But, it’s a slow process. He’ll start today and they’ll make sure they are taking care of the wound until the stitches comes out and go from there.
“He’s got a really small little thing. But, we also have to be mindful that it is a repaired muscle. So, can’t do too much too soon or it simply tears again.”
The swift surgery has not changed the timetable for Span’s return, according to Williams.
“We won’t know until he gets doing some baseball activity,” Williams said. “That’s still a ways away. Right now, we don’t know yet. It’s too early.”
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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