Eaton to begin rehab games on Friday, Soto to lead off tonight

BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced that outfielder Adam Eaton (out with an ankle injury since April 9) will go out on a rehab assignment beginning on Friday, most likely with Double-A Harrisburg at home.

"He ran today, looked really good," Martinez said. "So he's getting ready to go out to rehab this weekend. He'll get first maybe two at-bats, maybe three and then we'll go from there. We haven't decided where to go yet. Based on weather, we'll see where we send him."

Because of what happened to begin the season, when Eaton only played eight games before being sidelined, the club is cognizant of not letting him rush back this time. Eaton has missed 45 games.

"He's tough to monitor," Martinez acknowledged. "He wants to play nine innings tomorrow. We'll just have to keep an eye on him and take him slow. He's itching to get back. He knows to stick with the process."

Martinez does not know how the Nats outfield will shake out when Eaton returns.

"We haven't really thought about it yet, just because he's not back," Martinez said. "As he gets closer, we'll start playing around with it and see what's best for us."

But this weekend they will focus on the left side of the outfield for Eaton in Harrisburg.

"Yeah, we'll probably get him to play left, maybe some center, and we'll go from there," Martinez added.

Brian Goodwin has also played in three games with the Senators, hitting .273 (3-for-11) with four runs, three RBIs and a homer.

"He hit a home run yesterday, which was nice," Martinez said. "He feels good. He's anxious to get back as well. I think he was going to play another game or two and then we'll see where we go from there."

So when Eaton and Goodwin are ready to come back, what will Martinez do? Can he send Soto down if he is hitting lights out like he has in first week and a half?

"Yeah, it's a very good problem right now," Martinez said. "Like I said, until we get these guys back my focus is on the 25 guys we got right here.

"Once we get Adam back and Goodie back there'll be some decisions to be made. Goodie can play center field just as good as anybody."

Juan Soto, fresh off his first 3-for-3 performance in the majors, will lead off tonight for the first time in his career.

"I think he matches up really well," Martinez said. "He's been getting on base. Hitting the ball really well, matches well against this guy so why not."

"We'll see how it plays out. I know he's never done it before. He'll get some pitches to hit, he'll get on-base, keep doing what he's doing, we'll see how it works out."

Martinez decided to wait on dropping the news to Soto that he would lead off in Wednesday's series finale.

"He's come a long way. We all know he's 19," Martinez said. "He plays the game like he's been around for a while,which is nice. And he gets it. I didn't want to say nothing to him last night because I didn't want him to start thinking about things.

"I just wanted him to go out there and play. I talked to him in the clubhouse earlier and I told him, 'hey, after the first at-bat, it's just another at-bat so just go out there and play and have fun like you been doing.' "

Second baseman Daniel Murphy has hit .250 (3-for-12) with a homer, three runs and six RBIs in his three rehab game so far with Harrisburg.

"He's doing well," Martinez said. "He played six innings yesterday, had four at-bats and he said he felt fine."

Ryan Zimmerman continues to rehab from his right oblique strain.

"We'll see. Zim ran yesterday," Martinez updated. "He's still...we want to give him another day or two get him back out there, try to run the bases."