Danny Espinosa's season likely ends with hamstring tear

Nationals manager Matt Williams revealed before today's game that Danny Espinosa is "likely done for the season" with a small tear in the attachment of his right hamstring.

"It's a very difficult spot and for him to try to ramp up and get to a point where he can play," Williams said. "It's a great risk and if it tears any more at that spot, then it's a long, long rehab."

The versatile infielder first experienced pain in his hamstring while racing to the plate to score the eventual game-winning run in the 10th inning against the Phillies on Sept. 14.

"In the normal course of a season, he would be a 15-day DL," Williams explained. "It's probably a four-week type thing before we'd get him back ramped up to go again because of the nature of the injury."

Espinosa experienced a Comeback Player of the Year-type of season. The 29-year-old batted just .200 and combined for 169 strikeouts in 158 games over the past two years leaving general manager Mike Rizzo to search for a more offensive-minded second baseman over last offseason. In mid-January, Rizzo traded for Yunel Escobar to fill the role. But Anthony Rendon ended up spraining his left MCL in spring training and Escobar shifted to third base.

However, veteran Dan Uggla became the Nationals opening day second baseman and Espinosa didn't make his season debut until the fifth game. That night in Philadelphia, Espinosa roped a double from the left side of the plate. It was nothing new for the lifetime switch-hitter except that he had gone through all of Grapefruit League play batting exclusively from the right side.

After hitting just .183 with 97 strikeouts in 249 at-bats from the left side in 2014, the Nationals encouraged Espinosa to drop switch-hitting and only bat from the right side where he was a career .271 hitter.

"The intention in spring training was to take a look at it and try it," Williams said. "Remember, that's what we asked him to do, to try it and see what he felt. His numbers on the right side are really good. So we wanted to see whether righty-righty he could make that same type of consistency. He didn't feel like it was gonna happen. So we didn't push it, we didn't force it. We let him go back to where he was comfortable and he performed."

Espinosa ended up hitting .240 with 13 home runs, 21 doubles, 37 RBIs and 59 runs scored this season. Ten of those homers and 17 of his doubles came from the left side where he slashed .232/.300/.409 with a .709 OPS.

"I'm happy for the fact that he got so many plate appearances and was able to play so much," Williams said.

Besides his rejuvenated bat, Espinosa's value came in his unparalleled versatility. With the countless injuries that the Nats suffered throughout the year, Williams repeatedly called on Espinosa to seal leaks and every time, Espinosa responded. He played five different positions over the year, including three - first base, third base and left field - which he had never lined up at before in his life.

"I think he, over the course of the season starting the first day of spring training, has done everything that's been asked of him," Williams said. "He's played multiple positions. He's played in the outfield. He played every day at second base for a long time during the course of the season. He has done everything that he could possibly do.

"That's a valuable part. We've seen it on both sides this year. So we've seen him play every day and do well. We've seen him be versatile at the same time when he's not playing every day and be able to play multiple positions and not lose a beat. Again, everybody wants to play every day. And if somebody doesn't, then you question their motivations. So everybody wants to be out there every single day and Danny's no different."

The Nationals have Espinosa under contract until 2018, but he does become eligible for arbitration in January.

"He can do a lot of things on the baseball field that can help you win games beyond standing at the plate," Williams said. "In general, he had a good bounce back year from the left side of the plate. And he showed us even more versatility being able to play third and play the outfield and play first as well. That does nothing but help him in the future and certainly, as we look at it, help this franchise too. What it says about him is that he's a gamer. He loves to play. He wants to play. And he's willing to work at it. You can't ask for anything more than that."