Denard Span Begins Rehab Assignment, Could Return Saturday

Apr 4, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Denard Span (2) at bat against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Although the Nationals still have several injured players that won’t be back for a while, one key player could come off the disabled list as early as this weekend. Denard Span, who landed on the seven-day disabled list last Saturday due to a concussion, began his rehab assignment with Single-A Hagerstown, the team announced via Twitter.

Span sustained the concussion last weekend after colliding with Braves second baseman Dan Uggla between second and first base. The 30-year-old outfielder missed significant time due to a concussion when he was on the Minnesota Twins and has been taking things slowly in his recovery this time around to ensure that he is 100 percent ready to return to the lineup.

"“I feel fine,” Span told James Wagner of the Washington Post last Sunday. “…I understand with my history that it was best for me to go on the seven-day DL to be safe. So we went ahead to think about the rest of the season and the rest of my life.”"

Prior to the injury, Span was hitting .222 with four walks, four RBIs and five runs scored in ten games.

According to Wagner, the Nationals expect Span to get three at-bats in his first rehab game and  four at-bats in a second rehab game. If all goes well, Span could be back in the leadoff spot when the Nationals play the Cardinals on Saturday.