Nationals reinstate outfielder Reed Johnson

By Josh Land

Nationals

September 26, 2015, 9:28am

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The Washington Nationals reinstated outfielder Reed Johnson from the 60-day disabled list on Saturday and transferred center fielder Denard Span (left hip inflammation) from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Johnson, 38, returns to the Nationals' active roster after missing 131 games following surgery to repair a tendon in his left foot. Johnson's return was further delayed when he suffered a broken rib while on minor league rehab assignment.

The veteran outfielder appeared in 12 games (10 of them off the bench) for the Nationals before the initial injury struck, April 28 at Atlanta, going 4-for-18 (.222) with a double and two RBI.

Johnson, a veteran of 1,315 major league games, is a career .279 hitter who has posted a .335 career on-base percentage and a .405 slugging percentage. The Nationals signed Johnson to a minor league deal on March 30 and he made the Opening Day roster shortly thereafter.

Span, 31, was placed on the disabled list on Aug. 28 and underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip on Sept. 1.