Williams on Span, Rendon, Zimmerman, Werth and more

BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Matt Williams arrived in Baltimore with a positive update on center fielder Denard Span and the back spasms that landed him on the 15-day disabled list this week. The results of the MRI and what the back specialist saw revealed no major structural damage. "It's good news," Williams said. "The results of the MRI and the specialist he saw finds nothing alarming, which is good. We have to look at his history and the two surgeries he had this winter and say there's some changes in there. So we have to address them. Gave him another set of exercises to further his strength. So he'll start that process and be back quickly, so that's good news." It is still a mystery though why Span keeps having issues, but Williams has an educated guess as to some reasons it continues to be a problem. "No issues structurally," Williams said. "They don't find anything as to why. Structurally, there's no reason. You can deduce and say well he had two surgeries on his abdominal area this winter and didn't have spring training and is probably weaker than normal and we have to strengthen it. He'll continue to do that and hopefully in 15 days he will be back." Third baseman Anthony Rendon (quad) and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (foot) are on the trip and went through baseball-related activities including batting practice. "He's just starting," Williams said of Rendon. He'll take some grounders today. He'll be in a BP group. Zimm is the same way, he'll take his grounders today. They're both with us on the trip." Jayson Werth is in Florida at the team's practice facility and accelerating his rehab process from the wrist injury. "He did extensive outfield work today which is good sign and continuing to swing a light bat to get going so they're coming and we hope that it's quickly and there's no more setbacks," Williams said. Right-hander Aaron Barrett also has returned to the active roster following recovery from a right biceps injury. All of these good injury news rehabs had Williams knocking on the wood benches in the visitor's dugout. "The positive news on Denard is a welcome sign and the fact that the other three guys are (engaged in) baseball activity doing stuff is all positive news for us," Williams summed up. "We enjoy that part of it. The other part's not so fun. We'll have to make sure we're doing the right things for them to get them back as quickly as possible and when they do get back that they are fully ready to go for the second half."