Washington Nationals Center Fielder Denard Span Joins Potomac Nationals Tonight on Rehab

Span, Placed on 15-Day Disabled List on July 10th (Retroactive to July 7th) with Back Tightness and Back Spasms, Becomes Seventh Washington National to Rehab with Potomac in 2015

August 16, 2015

Woodbridge, VA--The Washington Nationals have announced CF Denard Span has been assigned to the Potomac Nationals for a rehabilitation start tonight as the P-Nats take on the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Kansas City Royals) at Pfitzner Stadium in a 6:05pm series finale.

Span is recovering from lingering back tightness and back spasms which placed Washington's center field captain on the 15-day disabled list on July 10th. The transaction was retroactive to July 7th.

Span's assignment to Potomac marks his third rehab stint in 2015 after stops with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators on April 14th and the Class-A Hagerstown Suns from April 16th to April 17th.

With the Senators in his one rehab appearance, Span went 1-for-4 with a single, and as a member of the Suns over a pair of rehab games, he turned in a 4-for-8 (trio of one-base hits) performance with one run scored, a solo home run, two RBIs, and one walk.

Span was a member of the Minnesota Twins from 2008 to 2012 after being drafted by the Twins in the 1st round of the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft with the 20th overall selection.

In '08, Span finished sixth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting after stashing 102 base hits including 29 extra-base knocks, 70 runs scored, 47 runs batted in, 18 stolen bases, 50 walks, and an .819 OPS.

Span was acquired by the Washington Nationals on November 29th, 2012 in a trade with Minnesota for prospect, RHP Alex Meyer.

In 2009, the southpaw thrower and hitter was the AL triples leader (10) and in 2013, Span collected the most three-baggers in the National League (11). Span was the 2014 Co-NL hits leader (184).

Span played in 59 games for the Washington Nationals in 2015 and hit .304 (72-for-237) with 37 runs scored, 15 doubles, five home runs, 22 RBIs, 24 walks, and 11 stolen bases while earning a .367 on-base percentage and a .430 slugging clip.

Span, in his third season with Washington, was also on the 15-day DL earlier this season while on the mend from surgery to repair a core muscle performed in early March and was placed on the active Washington Nationals roster on April 19th.

Span becomes the seventh Washington National to rehab with Potomac in 2015 after OF Jayson Werth (right shoulder surgery mending; two left wrist fractures), RHP Casey Janssen (right shoulder tendinitis), RHP Erik Davis (Tommy John surgery recovery), RHP Aaron Barrett (right biceps strain), IF Anthony Rendon (left quadriceps strain), and OF Reed Johnson (damaged ligament in left foot).

The length of Span's rehab stint with the Potomac Nationals is to be determined.

The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Potomac Nationals have claimed five Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and nine CL Northern Division Championships. The P-Nats are the defending Carolina League Champions after winning the 2014 Mills Cup Championship Series. Potomac Nationals 2015 season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2015 season and beyond are available. Corporate outing reservations for the 2015 season to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz may be placed now as the P-Nats offer discounted group rates and all-inclusive picnics. Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals Ticket Office at 703-590-2311 for more information!

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