Washington Nationals News: Denard Span reflects on injury-plagued ’15
By Pablo Roa
Good afternoon DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web.
In today’s Daily, Nationals outfielder Denard Span reflects on his injury-riddled 2015 season. In an article written by MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, Span discusses the adversity he’s faced in 2015 and the great success that he’s had in Washington over the last few years.
Span, a free agent after the season, will soon undergo season-ending surgery to prepare a torn labrum in his hip. With free agency looming and Michael Taylor ready to take over the everyday center fielder job for the Nationals next Spring, it looks like Span has probably played his last game in a Nationals uniform.
As Ladson writes in his article, the 2015 season has been a constant struggle to get healthy for Span. The center fielder began the season on the disabled list after undergoing abdominal surgery in the offseason. He then suffered through back spasms for most of the summer before once again landing on the disabled list on July 17. With his most recent injury, Span will miss the rest of the season—leaving the total number of games he will miss this season at 101.
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Indeed, the 2015 season has been one to forget for Span and his injuries are especially unfortunate since they’ll likely hamper his chances of getting a big deal in free agency this Winter. But Span shouldn’t be remembered for his inability to stay healthy in 2015. The center fielder has arguably been the best leadoff hitter in the history of the team during his time in Washington.
In the three years he’s spent in the Nation’s Capitol, Span has posted a .292 batting average with a .345 on-base percentage. He’s excelled from the leadoff spot more than anyone could have hoped, and he’s helped the team on countless occasions with phenomenal plays in center field.
Span won’t be back to help the team on its quest to return to the playoffs this season and he likely won’t be back with the team next year, either. But what Span has accomplished during his tenure with the Nationals won’t be soon forgotten by the team, its fans and the city that cheered him on for three seasons.
Also in today’s Daily, Patrick Reddington of Federal Baseball discusses what might be wrong with Nationals starter Max Scherzer, who has struggled mightily in the second half after being baseball’s best pitcher prior to the All-Star break.
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.
Awaiting surgery, Span reflects on injury-plagued ’15
WASHINGTON — Nationals center fielder Denard Span knew something was wrong with his left hip after he saw a back specialist a few weeks ago. Span would later learn that he had a torn labrum in the hip, and he will have surgery Tuesday to repair it.
Span said every time he had back spasms, he would feel pain in the hip, but that pain felt secondary to the back spasms. But once he received a cortisone shot for his back, that’s when Span knew something was wrong with the hip.
When Span returned to the Nationals earlier this week, he said he didn’t feel that great at all. Read full article here.
What’s wrong with Washington Nationals’ starter Max Scherzer?
(Patrick Reddington, Federal Baseball)
Max Scherzer went through fifteen starts and 110 ⅓ innings pitched before surrendering his seventh home run (0.57 HR/9) in a Washington Nationals uniform.
The 31-year-old right-hander gave up six home runs in 39 ⅔ IP over six starts (1.36 HR/9) in July.
After giving up two home runs in seven innings last night in Washington’s 4-3 loss to Miami, Scherzer has now allowed seven home runs in his last 28 IP (2.25 HR/9). Read full article here.
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