Surging Nats Face Setback

Chris Seymour, ‘15, Staff Reporter
May 30, 2012
Filed under Sports

Everything seemed to be going well for the Nationals. They were off to a National League (NL) East leading 18-10 record. They were playing well without their star player, Ryan Zimmerman. Rookie outfielder, Bryce Harper, was called up from the minor leagues and playing well. Now things have taken a turn for the worse.

Two days before the Nationals were expected to take Zimmerman off of the Disabled List (DL), outfielder Jayson Werth broke his wrist. Placido Polanco of the Phillies hit a single to right field in the sixth inning that Werth attempted to catch while sliding. As he hit the ground, his left arm was stuck under his body. He immediately reacted with pain, but managed to throw the ball in. Trainers rushed onto the field and were quick to take him off; as Werth walked off the field, Phillies fan booed him. He could no longer play and was replaced by Xavier Nady.

Werth’s left wrist had been previously injured. According to mlb.com, Werth missed the whole 2006 season due to a broken wrist that he suffered while playing with the Dodgers in 2005. He is expected to miss at least 12 weeks.

In Werth’s absence, the Nationals will look to make Harper the right fielder. The Nationals will look to have speedy outfielder Roger Bernadina and Nady fill the spot in left field. Nationals’ manager, Davey Johnson, also has ideas of Steve Lombardozzi or Chad Tracy getting more playing time with Werth on the DL.

As Zimmerman gets back in the lineup after spending some time on the DL, he will add some excitement in Nationals Park. The Nationals will lose one major player, but gain their team captain again, who hopes to make a big impact and keep a summer Nationals streak going.

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