Washington Nationals reinstate Michael A. Taylor from IL; option Andrew Stevenson...

Michael A. Taylor, who injured his right knee and suffered a hip sprain on a diving play in Grapefruit League action last month, was reinstated from the 10-Day Injured List today.

Taylor, 28, played in four rehab games before he came off the IL today, going 3 for 16 (.188 AVG) with one home run in four games played with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators over the last week.

Washington Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez told reporters last week that Taylor’s rehab work was going well, but he needed to take the next step before he returned to the major league roster.

“He’s doing well, but he needs to play some games, get out in the outfield,” Martinez said, as quoted by MLB.com’s Jamal Collier last Tuesday.

Taylor played his first game this past Thursday, got a doubleheader in on Saturday, and one more on Sunday before he finished the rehab assignment.

Taylor was 9 for 25 (.360/.407/.600) with three doubles and a homer in Grapefruit League action before suffering the injury on March 14th.

The outfielder returns after Howie Kendrick (hamstring issue) recently came off the IL as well. Both were expected to be part of the Opening Day roster, coming off the bench.

Taylor is expected to share center field duties with Victor Robles, though Robles, the Nats’ 21-year-old is off to a strong start, with a .269/.387/.615 line, three doubles, and two home runs in 31 PAs over the first eight games.

Martinez will have to find starts and at bats for his fourth outfielder now that Taylor is back in the big leagues.

While he was initially expected to miss a “significant amount of time” after the injury, Taylor is returning after missing just eight games.

Andrew Stevenson, 24, who made the Opening Day roster after Taylor’s injury, was 1 for 4 with a walk, hit-by-pitch, and two runs scored limited action in six games for the Nationals.

Stevenson was optioned to Triple-A Fresno to make room on the roster for Taylor’s return.