Eaton in "right direction" following knee surgery

Center fielder Adam Eaton is making progress after surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee. It has now been more than a month since the surgery.

"It's pretty good," Eaton told reporters Sunday during pregame. "It's almost seven weeks since the incident. On Tuesday, it will be five or six weeks since post-op. Everything is headed in the right direction. Ahead of schedule.

"I can't really put weeks on how far ahead of schedule we are. We've been weight bearing four or five days now. Basically can walk without pain without crutches. It's been an experience, that's for sure. But everything is going in the right direction."

Eaton said the focus in rehab recently has been occupational therapy as he works on range of motion for the knee.

"Re-learning how to contract muscles and bringing my leg up and understanding how to bend it and use it in space," Eaton said. "I never really realized that would be the case. I've never really realized that would be the case. I've never had an experience where I've told my leg to lift and it doesn't lift. It's really a surreal feeling as well as just standing, I have to tell consciously tell my quad to contract to hold my knee in place.

"It's definitely a grind, but a challenge that every day is exciting to accept and get better, take a step forward every day."

Eaton says he works in the weight room when others are on the field, so he doesn't get in the way of the Nationals' quest for another division title. He is extremely appreciative of the organization and had hoped he could have contributed more on the field this season.

"I hope that my presence here is felt just in the sense that I'm dedicated to them just as they've been dedicated to me," Eaton said. "The trade this offseason probably wasn't the most popular one. But I love this city. I love the people within the organization and I love everyone that's involved.

"I want to return the favor that you've invested time in me and effort. That's what I want to do here. I want to stay here, I want to stay with the team in any way, shape or form."

Eaton admitted an injury of this magnitude has made him think about his career long term. At 28, he still has plenty of baseball ahead of him.

"I do a very good job of focusing every single day," Eaton said. "Getting up and getting my therapy even before I come to therapy. At times, my mind wanders about big picture. Not even just this year, not even just next year, but the longevity of my career and how it may be shaped with this injury. I try to stay positive in the sense of longevity this year and next.

"It's a balance back and forth. But I try to stay in the moment the best that I can. I'm only human. It pops in my mind every now and then."

He doesn't have full extension of the left knee yet, but is walking without crutches. Gone is the scooter that would beep-beep around the clubhouse game days.

Right now it's working hard in rehab and staying positive, Eaton says.

"There's definitely a new-found appreciation for just playing this game. That's a whole different onion there. At times you're not the happiest to show up to the park," Eaton acknowledged. "You're kind of just upset at the world because it's the grind of the season and you're seeing the same person over and over and over again.

"But I come in and it's funny because it's like I was in that situation but now I don't take it for granted coming to the park. I don't take it for granted standing up in the morning. There's a silver lining to it, for sure. It's an experience of a lifetime that I hopefully don't have to go through again and I can learn my lessons from it and move on. But a new appreciation, without a doubt."