Washington Nationals: Analyzing Center Field Options In The Wake Of Adam Eaton’s Injury

Washington Nationals center fielder, Adam Eaton, suffered a leg injury in the ninth inning of Friday’s game. He has been one of the Nats’ best all-around players so far, and his absence creates a gaping hole.

All fans of the Washington Nationals held their breath as Adam Eaton went down after legging out an infield single in the ninth inning on Friday night. You never like to speculate, but it certainly did not look good. He was unable to put any weight on his leg, and had to be carried off the field.

Dusty Baker gave mostly ambiguous answers during his post-game press conference, and would not say whether it was an ankle or knee injury. It appeared to be an ankle injury, but Eaton was grabbing his shin and knee. All we know right now is that Eaton will undergo an MRI on Saturday.

The loss of Eaton creates a big problem for the Nats, even if he is only out for a short period of time. The Nationals currently have Chris Heisey and Michael A. Taylor as reserve outfielders, but Trea Turner and Wilmer Difo are also capable of playing center field.

At this point, the most obvious choice to fill in is Taylor. He possesses above average speed, and is usually pretty solid defensively. However, his bat leaves a lot to be desired. He has shown potential of becoming a quality hitter, but his at-bats are typically frustrating and very Danny Espinosa-esque. So far this season, he’s batting a minuscule .095. Taylor is better suited as a pinch-runner and late-inning defensive replacement. However, this potent Nats lineup could most likely compensate for Taylor’s lack of offensive production.

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Heisey is also capable of playing center field, but isn’t great defensively, and is better known as a pinch-hitter. He is primarily a corner outfielder, but has played 106 games in center field throughout his career. He’s not the ideal everyday center fielder, but he’s a professional hitter, and could hold his own in center.

Turner also has some experience in center. He filled in admirably last season, and his speed is a huge asset in the outfield. However, he’s on fire at the plate, and looks comfortable playing his natural position of shortstop. The Nats may not want to mess with him, and could elect to just leave him at shortstop. Even if the Nats want to keep him at short, he is capable of playing center in a pinch.

The final option currently on the roster to play center is Difo. He performed well in Turner’s absence earlier this year, and is extremely versatile. He has yet to play the outfield in a regular season game, but saw some time in center during Spring Training. His speed would play well in the outfield, and he’s capable of batting near the top or bottom of the lineup. He brings great energy to the team, and may be the best option if he is capable of playing center field.

The Nats also have a few options in the minors. Brian Goodwin and Rafael Bautista are both on the 40-man roster, and are capable of playing center field. Goodwin is better known to Nats fans, as he played in 22 big league games last season. He performed well last year, and was in contention for a spot on the bench in Spring Training, but struggled a bit and was ultimately sent to AAA. He got off to a slow start in AAA, but has improved, and currently has a seven game hitting streak.

Bautista is another possibility to be called up. The 24-year-old outfielder has never seen time in the majors, but impressed this Spring. In 23 games, he hit .316, and stole two bases. He’s hitting .291 so far in AAA, and has two consecutive multi-hit games.

Another option to be called up is Andrew Stevenson. However, this is less likely because he is only in AA, and is not on the 40-man roster. Stevenson had a great Spring, and has gotten off to a phenomenal start in AA, hitting .361 so far. He made news last week with back-to-back five-hit games. Stevenson would most likely only be an option if Eaton is out for a long period of time.

Next: Offense Already Chasing History

Eaton has been one of the best players in the league so far, and has done an outstanding job at the top of the lineup. The best case scenario would likely be an ankle sprain, which would leave him sidelined for a few weeks. However, the Nats have a big problem on their hands regardless of how much time he misses.