Washington Nationals News: Denard Span begins rehab stint with Potomac
By Pablo Roa
Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.
In today’s Daily, The Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes gives us another update on Nationals center fielder Denard Span, who is on the disabled list with a back injury. As Janes notes, Span continues to work his way back from the injury and took a big step forward in his recovery Sunday, when he began a rehab assignment with Class A Potomac.
Span played three innings with the Potomac Nationals and hit the ball hard twice, lining out once and grounding out hard in his other at-bat. As Janes notes, he also made some plays in the outfield.
Needless to say, this is great news for the Nationals. As the team continues to play its way out of a postseason spot, a healthy and productive Span in the lineup could be the difference maker for an offense which has been grossly inconsistent all season long.
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While it’s still not clear how much time Span needs before he can rejoin the big league club, the fact that he’s a step closer to rejoining the Nationals should give fans a reason to be cautiously optimistic. If Span can complete his rehab and work his way back in the not-so-distant future, his presence at the top of the batting order might be exactly what the Nationals need to turn their season around before it’s too late.
Also in today’s Daily, The Post’s James Wagner writes an interesting profile on Nationals assistant general manager Doug Harris. As Wagner notes, Harris is well respected within the Nationals’ organization and his success with the team could lead him to a General Manager job with another team in the near future.
Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.
Denard Span begins rehab stint with Class A Potomac
(Chelsea Janes, Washington Post)
Denard Span has trouble watching his Nationals from afar, pitch by pitch. Sometimes he’ll watch, or track on his phone. Sometimes his mom will keep him updated. As he sat in the Potomac Nationals clubhouse Sunday afternoon, he fidgeted in a black leather chair as he explained that watching closely, unable to contribute, is too difficult.
Span could not watch Sunday’s loss to the Giants anyway, because for the first time since before the all-star break, he was playing in one of his own. His took place in Woodbridge, Va., where the Potomac Nationals played the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Span started in center field and led off. Read full article here.
Doug Harris, the assistant GM praised by fellow Nationals, might soon get a GM job
(James Wagner, Washington Post)
Long before Steven Souza Jr. became a trade chip that helped the Washington Nationals acquire two top prospects — pitcher Joe Ross and shortstop Trea Turner — he was a rebellious young minor leaguer hanging by his last thread with the organization. Some wanted to cut Souza, who had yelled at his minor league manager during the playoffs and quit the organization. Not Doug Harris.
“I wouldn’t be in the big leagues without Doug,” Souza said.
Souza isn’t the only player who swears by Harris. “I probably wouldn’t be here right now [without him],” Nationals backup first baseman-outfielder Tyler Moore said. Read full article here.
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