Ramos knows Grandal's pain all too well

By Bill Ladson and Tom Schad

July 7, 2013

WASHINGTON -- As Anthony Rendon slid home and crashed into Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal in a force play at the plate on Sunday, Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos watched empathetically from the first-base dugout.

The slide damaged ligaments in Grandal's right knee, landing him on the 60-day disabled list, and nobody knows that feeling like Ramos. Last season, the 25-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament while chasing a passed ball.

"It's really hard, really hard to see that moment, because I got that kind of hurt," Ramos said. "We don't want to see anybody get hurt like that. It was a hard moment for us, and for him. Hopefully he'll get better soon."

Ramos has twice spent time on the disabled list this season with a strained left hamstring and said the mental aspects of rehab are just as difficult as the physical ones. Entering Sunday, he was 5-for-8 since returning to the team, including a home run and eight RBIs. Still, he is "a little bit scared" about suffering another injury.

Watching Grandal's knee buckle certainly didn't help.

"It's hard for me, I was on the DL for a long time last year. This year, more time," he said. "I'm trying to forget that part and just concentrate, go out there and do my best effort."

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the time. He also could be found on Twitter @WashingNats. Tom Schad is an associate reporter for MLB.com Follow him on Twitter @Tom_Schad.