Turner activated off DL, Green designated for assignment

By Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

April 21, 2017, 11:34am

Comments

NEW YORK - Trea Turner is back on the Nationals' 25-man roster, activated off the disabled list in time for tonight's series opener against the Mets.

Turner, out since April 8 with a strained right hamstring, may not be in manager Dusty Baker's starting lineup on a chilly evening at Citi Field, but he will be available off the bench if needed and is expected to start at shortstop Saturday afternoon.

To make room for Turner on the active roster, the Nationals designated infielder Grant Green for assignment.

Turner was eligible to return from the 10-day DL on Wednesday, but the club wanted him to play in a couple of rehab games before joining the big league lineup again. He wound up going to extended spring training in West Palm Beach, Fla., getting at-bats and playing shortstop both Wednesday and Thursday before flying to New York to meet up with the Nationals.

Though Turner's return is a boon, the Nats lineup performed splendidly in his absence. In the 10 games he missed, the Nationals hit a collective .280 with a .344 on-base percentage, scoring 5.7 runs per game and posting a 7-3 record.

Adam Eaton, who filled in as leadoff hitter with Turner out, hit .325 with a .378 on-base percentage and eight runs scored.