Ramos takes five swings, hits five balls as recovery continues

Catcher Wilson Ramos met with reporters pregame Friday to give an update on the rehab process for his hamate fracture in his left hand. Ramos had surgery and got the stitches taken out last Monday.

He has begun an intensive strengthening regimen to build the left wrist and hand back to full strength. He has been on the disabled list since April 1 after feeling pain in his hand and wrist during opening day at-bats in New York.

"Right now, starting working out with my hand," Ramos said. "My hand feels good. Getting my wrist strong. That is what I am working right now, working my wrist. Getting more power to my hands."

Ramos said he is moving the hand from the hot tub to the cold tub to help in the rehab process. They have massaged the hand and wrist and then he worked on squeezing a baseball to help with building strength back. He also worked with a rice bucket to help his hand.

He said he swung the bat five times, hitting five balls. Ramos said he feels a little weak still in his wrist. He said there is no power right now.

"No pain, not sore, just weak", Ramos said.

"I feel happy it is not my right hand because I do everything with my right hand, throwing and power in my swing. That was a little bit hard. I know right now trying to control the bat right now is hard. But day by day will be better."

No timeline has been set yet for his return to the full batting cage. Ramos said he is anxious "a lot" to get back on the field and playing baseball again with his Nationals teammates.

"After last year, the DL, throughout 2012, too, right now I am trying to do everything right, but I want to be on the field," Ramos said. "During the spring training, I was feeling great, healthy. After (the injury occurred), I was down a little bit. I keep my head up and keep working hard and try to be back soon."