Washington Nationals News: Denard Span To Undergo Hip Surgery
By Ricky Keeler
Just when you thought they were completely healthy, the injury bug has come back to bite the Washington Nationals. They had everybody healthy for a couple of days, but the injuries came in bunches during last night’s 4-2 win over the Padres. Today, William Ladson of MLB.com reported that Denard Span, who missed last night’s game, will undergo left hip surgery on Tuesday, thus ending his 2015 season and possibly his Nats career. Span will be a free agent this winter:
Source: Denard Span is out for the season. He will have surgery on his left hip Tuesday. I'll have more on http://t.co/yGl1p9fX0H. #Nats
— William Ladson (@ladsonbill24) August 28, 2015
The 31-year old center fielder for the Nats came back to the lineup on Tuesday after being out since July 6 due to a back injury. His best game of the two he played occurred on Wednesday night when he went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and a run scored.
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It has been a rough season for Span right from the get go. This spring, he had to undergo surgery on his right core muscle, which delayed the start of his season until April 19. If Span has played his final game as a member of the Nationals, he will finish his career in D.C with a .292 batting average, 14 home runs, and 106 RBI’s in three seasons. With Span going on the disabled list, the Nats have called up Matt den Dekker, who can provide some versatility when you consider he has played all three outfield positions in his career.
"The #Nats have recalled OF Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Syracuse and placed CF Denard Span on the 15-day DL with left hip inflammation."
The #Nats have recalled OF Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Syracuse and placed CF Denard Span on the 15-day DL with left hip inflammation.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 28, 2015
Michael Taylor, who got the start for Span last night, had to leave the game in the seventh inning due to a knee contusion. Bryce Harper had to move over to center field and Danny Espinosa went from second base to left field. Espinosa didn’t start the game, but entered it in the sixth inning as an injury replacement for Yunel Escobar. Espinosa is batting sixth and playing left field tonight, Harper is in center, hitting in the number three spot in the order and Trea Turner makes his first start of his career as he will be playing second base.
As for den Dekker, has played in 26 games for the Nats this season. He has hit .184 in those games with two home runs and five RBI’s. The 28-year-outfielder has spent most of the season in triple-A Syracuse, where he was hitting .249 with eight home runs and 32 RBI’s in 73 games. This month, den Dekker had been good at the plate for the Chiefs. In 24 games during the month of August, he is hitting .302 with six home runs and 12 RBI’s.
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