Source: MRI shows no break in Werth's wrist
Nationals outfielder has been out since being hit by a pitch on Friday
WASHINGTON -- It's still not known if Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth will go on the disabled list. However, a baseball source said Werth had an MRI on Monday and it confirmed that there was no fracture or ligament damage in his left wrist.
Werth, however, does have swelling and lack of range of motion in the wrist. The Nationals did not confirm the MRI report.
In the top of the second inning on Friday, Werth was hit on the left wrist by a pitch from Padres right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne. Werth dropped to the ground for a couple of minutes before going to first base.
After the half-inning ended, Werth was seen talking to third-base coach Bob Henley and then manager Matt Williams before he came out of the game. Tyler Moore replaced Werth in left field. Werth ended up missing the next two games.
Werth said Saturday his most recent injury reminded him of when he broke his left wrist in 2005, while he was a member of the Dodgers. Werth broke the wrist on the first day of Spring Training and missed 44 games. After the season, Werth under underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair ligaments in the left wrist, and he missed the entire 2006 season.
Werth acknowledged that he went through a difficult time when he was with the Dodgers. He expected a better outcome with this latest injury.
"I'm doing OK, but my wrist is pretty sore. The X-rays were negative, so that's a positive. But we are not out of the woods, so to speak." Werth said.