Denard Span has surgery, out at least a month

VIERA, Fla. -- ​Nationals center fielder Denard Span had surgery on Monday to repair an abdominal muscle on his right side. Manager Matt Williams said it was too soon to set a timetable for Span's return, but that he expected the leadoff man to need four to six weeks before he returns to baseball activity.

"He felt it coming into spring, and you look at stuff like that as training in the offseason," Williams said. "He thought it would work itself out, but once he ramped it up in the first game and tested it coming out of the box, he felt it a lot more."

Span also endured a sports hernia surgery in December. The expected recovery periods means he will likely miss the start of the season. With veteran outfielder Nate McLouth rehabbing a surgically repaired shoulder that ended his 2014 campaign, rookie Michael Taylor will see the bulk of the opportunities in center field in Grapefruit League play.

"We have Denard Span because he's a fantastic center fielder, and we certainly love having him out there playing every day," Williams said. "But if that's not the case, we have guys that can play the position as well."

Outfielder Jayson Werth is also rehabbing his shoulder after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in the offseason. And newly acquired infielder Yunel Escobar has been sidelined with an oblique injury, but is expected to return in time to be ready for opening day.

"Things happen," Williams said. "You never want it to, but then again, baseball is never a perfect world."

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