Kendrick "ready to go" on first day of spring training

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - When last we saw and heard from Howie Kendrick - 2 1/2 months ago at Winterfest - the rehabbing veteran said he "should" be ready for the start of spring training. At that point, he hadn't really tested his repaired Achilles tendon much, aside from some running on an anti-gravity treadmill.

Today, as Nationals position players officially reported for spring training, Kendrick no longer had to include any qualifiers in assessing his status. He's here. He's good to go. And doesn't expect anything to stand in his way.

"Everything has been good," he said. "I told them last year when I left, I told them my goal is to be ready for day one of spring training. And I've been running for about three weeks now, sprinting and stuff, simulating running the bases and things like that. I'm very excited to get going once spring starts, which is tomorrow, and we'll see how things go from there."

Kendrick, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon on May 19, arrived in West Palm Beach several days early and has been working out with a few teammates on the side while pitchers and catchers went through their formal drills. On Sunday he took grounders and turned double plays at second base, shagged fly balls in left field and took batting practice. To the untrained eye, he looked perfectly fine.

"I can't speak for Howie, but he looks normal," manager Davey Martinez said. "I think he's in one of the best shapes he's ever been in."

If anything, Martinez insists he's going to have to convince Kendrick to hold back some this spring, conserve himself for the final weeks of camp and the start of the regular season.

The 35-year-old utility man hears his manager and understands the message. But he also wants to feel like he's fully part of the team he disappeared from for most of 2018. And so as long as his legs feel fine, he wants to be out there and participate in every drill.

"He told me he's going to keep an eye on me, but as of right now I'm going to go out with the team and do everything everyone else is doing," Kendrick said. "I think they are going to modify my running a little bit ... but as far as I'm concerned I'm able to do all baseball activities."

Given the severity of the injury - and, to be fair, his advanced age as well - the Nationals couldn't spend the offseason assuming Kendrick would make it all the way back in time to begin the 2019 season as though nothing ever happened. They went out and signed Brian Dozier to be their starting second baseman. They've got four starting-caliber outfielders, even without Bryce Harper.

But they also know Kendrick could provide a much-needed boost off the bench, something that was sorely lacking last season after he went down.

Kendrick, for his part, has no complaints about the front office's approach to roster-building this winter.

"We're trying to win ballgames," he said. "I don't really think about it. I know Brian; I played against him over in the AL. He's a great player, great defender, a lot of power. You know I'm excited to have him here. My role on this team hasn't changed. I'm going to play everywhere like I did in the previous couple years, and you know I look at it like that. The at-bats I get are the at-bats I get. I'm not here to complain about anything. I'm here to play baseball, try to help guys get better and try to win ballgames."

Based on what he's saying and how he looks so far, Kendrick appears to be ready to do just that. On day one of spring training.

"I feel like I'm ready to go," he said. "I'm confident in where my Achilles is. Like I said, I feel good about it."