When the Nationals realized on Thursday that center fielder Denard Span would be lost for the season, they knew exactly who to turn to. Sitting on their bench was rookie Michael Taylor, the heir apparent at the position, who had mostly thrived this season while Span was recovering from injuries.
But then Thursday night’s game transpired and Taylor himself got hurt. The 24-year-old slammed into the center field wall at Nationals Park after leaping on a full sprint. His cleat caught the bottom of the wall and ripped a hole in the green padding. With the contact his knee twisted and he was removed from the game.