ANAHEIM -- Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth provided some clarity on the left foot injury that has sidelined him since he a pitch off the foot June 5. Although the Nationals have said X-rays were negative, Werth revealed he is dealing with a first metatarsal fracture.
He was scheduled to potentially return at some point this week, but was pulled off his Minor League rehab assignment in West Palm Beach, Fla., after his foot did not improve. He is able to participate in baseball activities and was out stretching with his teammates prior to Tuesday's game against the Angels, however, his bone bruise is severe enough that it prevents him from running.
"Sometimes you can play with these things; sometimes you can't," Werth said. "I've had tons of injuries, played with cracked ribs, played with broken this and that. This one is just a little bit different because we're going to have to wait till it heals to put the pressure on it you would need to sprint. It's kind of go as tolerated, but at the same time, it's not tolerating full force."
Werth is frustrated that the process had taken so long, and he isn't sure about an updated timetable for his return -- "Two weeks ago is what I was thinking," he quipped. However, he is not shut down and can do everything except run. He began his rehab assignment at four weeks and said he could be sidelined for another week or more.
For now, Werth is going to give his foot time to heal before he tests it again, meaning the Nationals will be without its left fielder for at least a few more weeks.
"I'm just backing off it," Werth said. "We have these little checkpoints. We're proceeding. Before the break there it was time to test it. Just wasn't ready."