Washington Nationals: What to watch as they visit Freddie Freeman and the Braves
By Drew Douglas
Adam Eaton’s incredible start
After getting off to a phenomenal start last April, Adam Eaton‘s season came to an abrupt end at the hands of a torn ACL. Now, he is back and picking up right where he left off.
In Eaton’s first at-bat of the year, leading off on Opening Day, he singled into right field. After one at-bat, he was on pace to hit 1.000. He has not quite maintained this pace, but he is not far from it.
Through three games, Eaton is batting .615 with two homers, seven runs scored, and five RBI. For Bryce Harper, a top-five player in the league, this would be incredible. For Eaton, a guy who has not played in nearly a year and is returning from major knee surgery, this is unreal.
It is still early, but Eaton’s knee has passed every test thus far. He is not quite at full strength, but he is running well on the bases and in the outfield. He also started all three games in Cincinnati.
While Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Taylor, Howie Kendrick, and Matt Wieters received off-days, Eaton was a mainstay in the lineup.
Now, the Nats travel to Atlanta. SunTrust Park earned the reputation of being a launching pad in its inaugural season last year, so Eaton could gain an additional advantage. The ball does not carry well at Great American Ball Park early in the season, yet Eaton still raked. Now, he will be hitting in a hitter’s park.
Just seeing Eaton in the lineup was a pleasure for Nats fans, but seeing him play as well as he did in Cincinnati was unforgettable. Don’t be surprised to see him get a day off in Atlanta, but he should continue to rake.