Updates on Denard Span, Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon

VIERA, Fla. - It's time for the medical report from Nationals camp. Unfortunately, this has become the featured portion of manager Matt Williams' morning press conversations. Let's start with the most positive news of the day.

Center fielder Denard Span, who is recovering from abdominal muscle surgery, is scheduled to swing a fungo bat in the cages today.

"It's good progress," Williams said. "It's part of the rehab progression. Of course we want him back as quickly as possible, keeping in mind that he's just coming off of surgery. So anytime you have to go in there, you have to take time to get well again. But yeah, it's encouraging."

Span spent most of the offseason rehabbing from sports hernia surgery resulting from a similar injury to his most recent setback.

"We just want to make sure that we go through that progression accordingly, and when he's ready, he's ready," Williams said. "But it's a really good sign that he's able to do some stuff, especially this early. It's going to be light, of course, but nonetheless he's doing it, so that's a good sign."

Outfielder Jayson Werth still hasn't taken an at-bat during a game, but he has increased his workload playing in the field during minor league games.

"Jayson was a little bit sore, but he played a couple of days in a row pretty heavy," Williams said. "He was due to have a day off today. If he warms up and he feels good, then he can run over and get a few innings over there. Still just defense, but he can insert himself in games over there and get some work done if he feels good about it."

Williams said third baseman Anthony Rendon is improving and participating in some lateral exercises today. He was testing his sprained left MCL with some light jogging on the Space Coast Stadium field this morning.

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to start tomorrow against the Mets in Port St. Lucie. Williams expects Strasburg to pitch four to five innings in what will be his first outing since spraining his left ankle during workouts last Friday.

Williams continues to speak highly of second baseman Dan Uggla. The three-time All-Star gets the start today as he continues to make a push to secure a spot on the Nats' opening day roster. Uggla, a longshot at the start of camp, is batting .323 with two homers, two doubles and six RBIs.

"I just think his direction is good," Williams said. "It has been good, the fact that he's just taking balls to right field. He's shown some power the other way in spring, which is good. For him, that's key. I know that he feels good about where he's at, I know he feels good about seeing the ball. And the results are showing so yeah, I think he's performed really well. He's been a joy to have around. He's a veteran guy, understands the whole process of spring training, but he's worked really hard, too. So for me he's been real good."

Infielder/outfielder Kila Ka'aihue was one of one of six players reassigned to minor league camp this morning. What the Nats would get from Ka'aihue in camp was relatively unknown, since he played the past two years in Japan and hasn't been in the big leagues since 2012. The big Hawaiian displayed some serious power, tying for the team lead with three homers while driving in eight runs.

"He had options this winter and wanted to come here. Says something about the organization and the desire for guys to play here," Williams said. "He performed really well. He'll move around the diamond over there, too - play a little bit of third base, he's done that in the past, and DH. He'll get a sense of all those different positions."

Today's starter, Jordan Zimmermann, is expected to go six innings or throw around 80 pitches.