After frustrating injuries, Rendon ready to make season debut (game started)

Anthony Rendon hasn't played a game with his Nationals teammates since March 9. The 24-year-old is set to bat second and start at second base in his season debut tonight after the Nats reinstated him from the disabled list earlier this afternoon.

"It feels good," Rendon said. "I had a frustrating few months, but I'm happy to be back."

Rendon initially sprained his left MCL on a spectacular diving play in his third exhibition game. After second and third opinions from renowned orthopedists, Rendon was shut down for an extended period of time. With his knee healed, Rendon began a minor league rehab assignment in late April, where he was met with another setback. This time it was a strained left oblique which forced Rendon to the sidelines for most of May. But after playing the last five games for Double-A Harrisburg, Rendon is ready to make the leap to rejoin his Nationals teammates.

"Well you can't expect him to be the catalyst for anything right now, but we're glad to have him back," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "The fact that he's physically able to play is important to us, and important to him as well. So he feels good. He's got some at-bats. Not ideal amount of at-bats, but nonetheless he's, like we said yesterday, he's a pretty quick study. So we're glad to have him."

Rendon was 2-for-7 with a double playing in a doubleheader for Harrisburg on Wednesday.

"The idea of him playing two games yesterday and coming out of it fine and not having any issues is a pretty big hurdle to cross," Williams said. "It's important for him to get back here. We were talking in there about if he hits a double, we want it to be here at this point, and not somewhere else."

Williams has decided to keep Yunel Escobar at third base and play Rendon at second base. That wasn't the original plan when the Nationals traded reliable reliever Tyler Clippard for Escobar back in January. The idea was to turn Escobar, a career shortstop, into a full-time second baseman.

"[Escobar] didn't really get a chance to play second base in spring training, so it's been an on the fly thing during the course of the season, and he's adapted fairly well to third base," Williams said. "He's comfortable there. Anthony has experience at second base, so he can do that. And he's gotten his reps during his rehab starts at second, too. So it's an easier move for us to do for our club. I'm not saying it can't change. But as of right now, that's what we're going to go with."

Rendon doesn't seem fazed by the move back to second base, where he has played 110 of his 263 games with the Nationals. Although, Rendon won a Silver Slugger Award as a third baseman last year after batting .287 with 21 homers, 39 doubles, 83 RBIs and a league leading 111 runs scored.

"I feel fine," Rendon said. "I've always told you I feel most comfortable with a bat in my hand. As long as I'm out here to help the team."

Rendon said he has been watching all of the Nationals games while sidelined.

"I think we're alright," Rendon said. "Unless we win every single game, y'all freak out. That's the just the nature of the beast. I think we're doing great. I think it's just being smart about the whole deal. We're 53 games in, how many do we play in a season? One hundred and sixty two, and hopefully more than that. It's about being prepared for the majority part of the season. It's unfortunate that I wasn't ready for the beginning part, but it's about being smart about the whole season."

Update: The start of tonight's game has been delayed due to inclement weather in the area.

Update II: Tonight's game will start at approximately 8:55 p.m