WASHINGTON — The projected eight everyday players for the Nationals have not taken the field together for any game this year.
But that could happen this month if everything goes well for Washington and center fielder Denard Span, who has been on the disabled list since July 10 due to back tightness.
Span hit in the cage on Wednesday — the third day in a row he has done that — and took groundballs and also hit on the field and took flyballs in the outfield before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“Today was a step in the right direction,” Span said. “It felt good.”
Span said he will see how he feels Thursday and manager Matt Williams said the left-handed hitter could take live batting practice and maybe even run the bases later this week.
Span is hitting .304 with 11 steals in as many tries. Last year, he set career highs in doubles with 39 and also set a Nationals mark with hits in a season with 184 while he hit .302. The Nationals have a winning record with Span in the lineup and a losing record when he is out.
The Nationals certainly need a lift from someone, be it player or manager or coach.
Washington lost for the fifth time in six games Wednesday, falling 11-4 to the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was their fifth loss in six games and they fell two games back of the red-hot New York Mets.
“In the beginning of the season, if you’d told me we were two games back with 55 games to go, I would’ve taken it any day of the week,” said right fielder Bryce Harper. “I don’t think you can have a bad mentality or bad mind … we’re still going, still doing what we’re doing, and just gotta get to swinging it and get comfortable and really just try to go about … every single day. And laugh and try to enjoy the game. That’s all that matters.”
“Try to enjoy the game,” he added. “Trying to laugh, trying to smile. There’s bigger things than just baseball in life. Just come in, clean slate every single day and worry about what you can do to help your team win that day. If that’s your first at-bat or your fourth at-bat, it don’t matter.”
After this year, Span will be a free agent and it appears he will leave the Nationals, who have groomed Michael A. Taylor as the next center fielder.
Taylor has been playing center with Span out and Taylor also played left field earlier this year when Jayson Werth was on the disabled list. Taylor hit a two-run homer Wednesday.
Other everyday regulars who have spent time on the DL this year include first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and infielder Anthony Rendon.