Nats recall den Dekker, DL Span (updated)

By Pete Kerzel

Nationals

August 28, 2015, 10:43am

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The Nationals this afternoon recalled outfielder Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Syracuse to fill the 25-man roster spot of center fielder Denard Span, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with left hip inflammation.

den Dekker, acquired from the Mets on March 30 in a trade for left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins, has hit .184 with two homers and five RBIs in three previous stints with the Nationals this season. In 73 games at Syracuse, den Dekker batted .249 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs.

Span heads to the DL for the third time this season, and this trip could end both his campaign and his tenure in Washington, as the 31-year-old is a pending free agent.

After undergoing core muscle surgery on both sides of his abdomen during the offseason, Span started the season on the disabled list. He returned from the DL in mid-April but back tightness sent him to the sidelines in early July. He had been activated from the disabled list Tuesday before suffering what manager Matt Williams termed "a setback" in announcing Thursday night that Span was again bound for the DL, this time with the hip ailment.

In 61 games this season, Span is slashing .301/.365/.431 with 17 doubles, five home runs, 22 RBIs and 11 stolen bases as the team's leadoff hitter.

Update: According to Williams, Span will undergo left hip surgery on Tuesday.