Desperate for healthy outfielders after both Denard Span and Michael Taylor were injured Thursday night, the Nationals recalled Matt den Dekker from Class AAA Syracuse before Friday’s series opener against the Marlins.
Den Dekker officially takes the roster spot that opened up when Span was placed back on the 15-day disabled list Friday, this time with a left hip injury that is expected to sideline the 31-year-old for the rest of the season.
Span had just returned Tuesday from a 7-week stint on the DL with a lower back injury but made it through only two games before having to be shelved again, the pain becoming too severe for him to attempt to continue playing.