Denard Span on Michael A. Taylor: "He can play, man"

VIERA, Fla. - Denard Span returned to Space Coast Stadium on Thursday morning just three days after surgery to repair a small tear on the right side of his rectus abdominis muscle. The seven-year veteran was already coming off a similar surgery on the left side of the same muscle in December. He showed up early to spring training to test it out and was at his normal leadoff spot for the Nationals' Grapefruit League opener on March 5. But Span's spring training lasted just two at-bats.

"I knew before the first game," he said. "It took for the first game for me to test it up and then I knew 100 percent that something wasn't right. I'd probably say about six or seven weeks after the first surgery, training back home, that I had some concern. It was feeling a funny on my other side. I was hoping that it would kind of get better once I got to camp as things progressed along."

The injury comes at a particularly tough time for Span, one of four notable Nationals in the final year of their contracts. The 31-year-old is also coming off arguably his best season, tying for the National League lead in hits with 184 while batting .302.

"It's psychologically frustrating," he said. "It was an obstacle getting over the first operation during the offseason, but what am I going to do? It's not from lack of hard work. It's not from lack of commitment. It's probably from too much commitment, too much hard work. I just got to listen to my body and let it heal up."

Span's rehab will most likely last into May before he can join the Nats on the field. In the meantime, it's up to 23-year-old Michael A. Taylor to take over in center field.

"He can play, man," said Span. "I think he's about ready, I'm going to be honest with you. I've watched him for the last two spring trainings and watched him go about his business during drills and pregame stuff. Mentally, he has a real good head on his shoulders and he's going to be real good."

"He might be ...," Span said before stopping himself while laughing. "I was going to say he might be better than me, but he's going to be pretty good. He's going to be a good player."

Manager Matt Williams said he doesn't have to ask Span to mentor Taylor.

"He does that on his own," said Williams. "They're going to talk about positioning, about anything that comes up, as far as defensive play goes. They do that on an everyday basis. They sit and talk amongst themselves, what the veteran guys potentially saw the day before if anything and what they can help them with."

Span can relate to Taylor's opportunity. He was once a 24-year-old rookie who got a chance to play in Minnesota when Michael Cuddyer got hurt.

"I think it's going to be instrumental for this ballclub for me to try to help out Mike or whoever's out there as much as possible so that we can win ballgames and hopefully hold the fort down until I get back," Span said.

On opening day, the Nationals will definitely be without Span on opening day and most likely will be missing left fielder Jayson Werth, who's still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Second baseman Yunel Escobar (strained oblique), third baseman Anthony Rendon (MCL sprain) and closer Drew Storen (hamate bone surgery) have also suffered injuries during spring training.

"That's why it's so difficult to win a championship," said Span. "It looks good on paper, but so much goes in to guys staying healthy (and) guys, when they are or aren't healthy, performing up to their expectations. Just tough. It's a tough game, tough sport when you're playing at this high of a level. That's why you have to count on the guys like the Michael Taylors, the guys like the (Wilmer) Difos, these young guys to step in. This is when they get their opportunities. You just hope they make the best of it."