Nats positional preview: Outfield

Lofty expectations follow Denard Span, Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper into 2015, their third season playing together in the Nationals outfield.

Span anchors the trio playing center field and batting leadoff for the Nats. He's entering his third year in D.C., after coming in a trade from Minnesota in 2012. His contract with the Nationals expires at the end of this year giving him added incentive to perform well as he approaches free agency.

I'm sure Nats manager Matt Williams would be thrilled if Span could recreate his 2014 season. Span batted .302 with 39 doubles and 31 stolen bases, and his 184 hits tied Philadelphia's Ben Revere for most in the National League. The hit total was a career-high for Span, while his batting average was the second-best mark of his seven years in the majors. He also scored 94 runs, a number that may actually go up this year considering the offensive firepower following him in the Nats lineup.

Like many of his teammates, Span's hot bat from the regular season did not carry over to the playoffs. In the National League Division Series, he managed just two hits in 19 at-bats.

Span, who will turn 31 on Feb. 27, figures to have another stellar season defensively in center field this year. He committed just four errors in 377 chances last season. More importantly, his speed and instincts saved countless runs, whether by impressive catches or running down balls in the gaps. He's been a Gold Glove finalist the past two years and was passed over in 2013 despite not committing an error in 384 chances.

When we last saw Harper - on the field, not on Instagram - he was hitting towering home runs in the NLDS. In fact, the 22-year-old was a bright spot in an anemic October lineup, hitting three out of the park in the Nats' four-game series loss to the Giants. Williams will hope that carries over for Harper, who had a frustrating season in 2014. A torn ligament in his left thumb that occurred while sliding into third base in April forced surgery that robbed Harper of 62 games early in the season. Injuries have caused Harper to miss significant time in two of his first three seasons in the majors. Knee and hip issues scratched him from 44 games in 2013.

Last season, Harper slashed .273/.344/.423 with 13 home runs and 32 RBIs while hitting all over the Nats lineup. He also had 104 strikeouts in those 100 games. If he can stay healthy, expect Harper to hit 25-plus homers and drive in upwards of 85 runs.

Harper switches outfield positions with Werth, taking over right field with Werth moving over to left field in 2015. Playing right will give Harper the opportunity to showcase his cannon of an arm. He has experience playing in right, and has seen action there in 91 of his 351 major league games. Harper sustained a shoulder injury in 2013 when he crashed into the wall in Dodgers Stadium while playing right.

One of the questions facing Williams heading into spring training is the availability of Werth for the start of the season. On Jan. 9, Werth underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, which he injured when he collided with the right field wall while making a catch last August. An expected post-surgery recovery and rehabilitation period of two to three months leaves doubt for Werth to make it onto an opening day lineup card.

Werth had a terrific 2014 campaign that included being named National League Player of the Month in July, when he hit .337 (28-for-83) with 11 doubles, six home runs, 24 RBIs and 17 runs scored. For the season, Werth batted .292 with 16 home runs and 82 RBIs in 147 games. Like Span, Werth also struggled at the plate in the NLDS, managing only one hit in 17 at-bats with five strikeouts in the four games.

Werth, who turns 36 in May, should benefit from the move to left field by putting less wear and tear on his body.

The Nats have several players heading to Viera looking to prove themselves as major league outfielders. Some of them may even have a shot of starting opening day in left field should Werth not recover soon enough.

Nate McLouth is looking to redeem himself after a tough first year with the Nationals in 2014. He managed just a .173 batting average with one home run and seven RBIs in 79 games before right shoulder inflammation cut his season short. He has one year remaining at $5 million with an option for 2016 on a contract he earned after a productive 2013 season with the Orioles. The 33-year-old hit .258 with 12 home runs and 25 RBIs in 146 games that year. He brings experience off the bench, having played extensively at every outfield position.

Tyler Moore, 28, is facing a critical spring. He is out of minor league options, meaning he either needs to make the Nationals' opening day roster or be subjected to the waiver wire on his way to the minors. He's struggled to maintain his offense with inconsistent playing time, batting just .231 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 42 games last year. Moore has split time between first base and the outfield when he's been presented with the opportunity to play. The majority of his outfield time has been spent in left field, where he's played in 73 games over his three seasons with the Nats.

Kevin Frandsen truly was a valuable utility man for the Nats last year. He played significant time at four different positions in 2014, including 21 games in left field. In 105 total games, the 32-year-old hit .259 with one home run and 17 RBIs.

Like Moore, Mike Carp has bounced back and forth between the outfield and first base during his six major league seasons. Carp, a non-roster invitee to spring training, had a tough 2014 season at the plate, hitting only .175 in 59 games with Boston and Texas. Carp, who bats from the left side, will be one to watch in the spring to see if he can regain his 2013 form when he clubbed nine home runs with 43 RBIs and a .296 average in 86 games with the Red Sox.

The most intriguing potential backup outfielder is Michael A. Taylor. The 23-year-old made the jump to the majors last August and promptly hit his first home run in his big league debut. He struggled mightily after that, hitting just .205 with 17 strikeouts in 39 at-bats in 17 games. He had a total of 144 strikeouts between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse last year. Taylor possesses tremendous speed and range, and is considered the Nats' top defensive outfield prospect.