Robles expects to be ready for opener, Suero rejoins camp

Victor Robles is convinced he'll be ready for opening night. The Nationals have four days to decide if they concur.

Robles, who was cleared to participate in workouts Saturday for the first time this summer, said today that despite his lack of baseball activities while in quarantine, he expects to be good to go for the Nats' season opener against the Yankees.

"Absolutely. I think I have the ability and the youth that helps me get ready quickly," the young center fielder said, via interpreter Octavio Martinez. "I think the team brought enough things for me to work on to where I feel like I'm definitely going to be able to be ready for opening day, if possible."

Confined to his D.C. apartment for two weeks after arriving from the Dominican Republic, Robles said he was able to stay in shape, lift weights, run and even play catch in a parking garage. But he wasn't able to swing a bat, making these final days of camp critical for his last-minute prep.

"It was definitely very difficult, the fact that I really wasn't able to work much on my swing," he said. "But I appreciate that the team did a good job of (sending) me a lot of things that I could use within the apartment, even baseballs and whatnot, to try to stay as ready as I could physically."

Robles has now been on the field at Nationals Park for two days, working out before Saturday night's exhibition opener and participating in this morning's brief session that included live batting practice off several relievers and individual drills in the field and on the bases.

Manager Davey Martinez must now decide if Robles is ready to play in Monday night's exhibition in Baltimore, then Tuesday night's rematch in D.C. Those are the Nationals' only remaining tune-ups before Thursday's nationally televised opener against the Yankees.

Even if Robles is deemed not ready to start opening night, the Nats could still keep him on the expanded 30-man roster to begin the season and ease him back into regular action while Michael A. Taylor handles center field duties.

If nothing else, Robles' presence with the team at last is a boost to everyone's morale.

"Just to have him in camp, he's bubbly," Martinez said. "He's entertaining. He's got that lithe body. It's fun to have him around."

Today's workout also saw the return of reliever Wander Suero for the first time this summer. Suero, who along with left-hander Roenis Elías was placed on the 10-day injured list for undisclosed reasons Monday, was cleared to participate again. Both pitchers threw light bullpen sessions, according to Martinez.

Though eligible to come off the IL for opening night, it seems unlikely Suero or Elías will be deemed ready. They haven't yet faced live hitters, let alone pitched in an exhibition game.

"It's going to take them some time, which we figured," Martinez said. "They're a little bit behind. Hopefully, we get them cranked up. But we've got to get them a couple (of bullpen sessions) before we can get them to face any live batters."