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Washington Nationals: Danny Espinosa To Sit With Small Fracture In Right Wrist; Played With Injury Suffered In Mid-April

Danny Espinosa reportedly took a trip to a doctor once the Washington Nationals got home from what was a dismal ten-game road trip offensively, and the Nats' 26-year-old infielder learned that he had a small fracture in his right wrist and a bone chip causing him discomfort.

By Patrick Reddington
USA TODAY Sports

Washington Nationals' second baseman Danny Espinosa left an April 14th game against the Atlanta Braves early after he was hit on the wrist by a pitch from left-handed starter Paul Maholm. When Nats' skipper Davey Johnson met with reporters after the game the he assured everyone his infielder was fine. X-rays on Danny Espinosa's right wrist were negative according to Johnson. Espinosa left the game with what was described by the Nationals as a "sore right wrist."

"Danny's going to be all right," the Nats' skipper told reporters after that day's 9-0 loss, which was the third straight vs the Braves. "Just a tough day," Johnson said, "but you're never as bad as you look when you lose, you're never as good as you look when you win." Espinosa, who was already playing with a torn rotator cuff suffered late in the 2012 campaign, returned six days after the HBP, but he's struggled offensively all season, and apparently had issues with the wrist as Washington wrapped up a tough road trip through LA, San Diego and San Francisco in which he was 2 for 30 with 14 Ks. According to reports from Nats Park today, Espinosa saw a specialist after the wrist began to bother him and received the following bad news:

So, even though Espinosa was reportedly adamant this afternoon about not using the injury as an excuse for his struggles at the plate, the switch-hitting infielder has apparently been playing with a fracture and bone chip in his wrist. Davey Johnson told reporters this afternoon that with Ryan Mattheus also on the DL with a broken hand after slamming it into his locker during the road trip, the Nationals have some roster moves pending:

Anthony Rendon's at Double-A of course, and asked specifically about the hot-hitting infielder, Johnson told reporters that it's not likely the 22-year-old 2011 1st Round will be the one who gets the call:

More news on any further moves when it is available.

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