Escobar scratched from exhibition opener with "general soreness"

By Josh Land

Nationals

March 05, 2015, 11:32am

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VIERA, Fla. - Yunel Escobar has been scratched from today's Grapefruit League opener with what the team is calling "general soreness." Escobar was due to make his first appearance in a Nationals uniform in a game today after coming to Washington from the A's in a trade in mid-January.

Kevin Frandsen, who was originally slated to serve as the designated hitter and hit ninth, will replace Escobar at second base, with Mike Carp taking over as the DH and batting seventh.

The Nats expect Escobar to be their starting second baseman this season. It's basically a new role for the 32-year-old, who has only played 21 games at the position, all in his rookie season in 2007.

Escobar initially was unsure about the switch to second base from his normal shortstop position when the trade was made. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Matt Williams were able to convince Escobar to buy into playing second. He's taken extra fielding practice on the Space Coast Stadium field almost every day after Nats team workouts.

"I would imagine that he'll be sore as we get through this, because he's turning a different direction than he's used to turning playing shortstop," Williams said on Feb. 26, the first day of full-squad workouts.

Here is the new Nats lineup:

CF Denard Span
3B Anthony Rendon
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
C Wilson Ramos
SS Ian Desmond
DH Mike Carp
LF Tyler Moore
DH Kevin Frandsen
RHP Max Scherzer