Wood returns to outfield and García returns to lineup

JUPITER, Fla. – The time has come for James Wood to finally return to the outfield after dealing with right quad tendinitis over the first few weeks of Nationals spring training.

Wood will play four or five innings in left field while batting second behind leadoff man CJ Abrams in this afternoon’s game against the Marlins in Jupiter. The big outfielder has appeared in two games as the designated hitter, going 2-for-6 with one run, one walk and one strikeout, and faces a tough challenge today in Miami starter Sandy Alcantara.

“He's gonna probably play about four or five innings out there,” manager Davey Martinez said during his pregame media session. “We'll see how it goes, but he played well yesterday. He looked good. He says he's ready to go, so we'll get him out there and get him some regular reps out in the field.”

Wood took part in the Nationals’ fly ball drills yesterday and then played a couple of innings in the outfield during a simulated intrasquad game on the back fields at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. The 22-year-old reported that he was fine afterwards and told his manager he’s ready to return to the field in an actual Grapefruit League game.

“I think everything went well yesterday and he felt good,” Martinez said. “He's been itching to get back out there. So we'll get him going.

“The biggest thing yesterday was just running out, standing on his feet in left field, and just getting a chance to go out there and play. He's been running the bases quite frequently and doing well. It doesn't bother him hitting. Yesterday he came in and I said, 'How'd you feel?' He said, 'No, issues. Felt great.' So (when I asked) 'What do you think about tomorrow?' he said, 'Yes, I want to play.' So he's in there.”

Although it seemingly has been a frustrating start to camp, Wood has handled it well. It’s still early March and he understands the Nationals need to practice extreme caution for one of their budding superstars.

“He's been great,” Martinez said. “He knows we're trying to build him up. With that being said, still a lot of maintenance work that he's going to be doing. We'll keep an eye on him and see how he does. I told him, hey, you really got to communicate and be honest with one another and really see how you're feeling. If you do feel anything, I want to know right away. We can do other things to get you ready, to keep you off your feet. But he's good.”

Luis García Jr. also returns to the lineup after missing the last three games while battling an illness, which is supposedly spreading around the Nats clubhouse. The 24-year-old second baseman was a late scratch from Saturday’s nightcap of a split-squad doubleheader with a throat issue and fever.

García returned to the Nats clubhouse yesterday after Monday’s off-day and resumed baseball activity. He also played in the intrasquad game on the back fields, with Martinez saying he’s ready to get back in the lineup. García is 2-for-7 with a run, an RBI, a walk and a strikeout in three spring games.

“He's good. He's all good. So that's good,” the skipper said. “I guess it's going around. We had a couple guys ill.”

As of now, no one else is unavailable for the Nationals. Everyone is a full participant in camp (knock on wood).

“Everybody, as of right now, should be on schedule for Opening Day,” Martinez said.

* The one small exception is Josh Bell, but not for an injury or sickness. The veteran designated hitter is away from the team as he and his wife, Arlia, welcome the birth of their third child, the couple’s first boy.

Bell is expected back in camp within the next few days.