The Washington Nationals activated third baseman Anthony Rendon from the disabled list before Thursday night's 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
Rendon, who had two hits in his 2015 debut, started the game playing second base but was moved to third after Yunel Escobar left the contest after one inning.
Escobar struck out Thursday night against Jake Arrieta while attempting to check his swing, ending the first inning. After the game, Nationals manager Matt Williams said X-rays were negative on Escobar's right wrist, according to the Washington Post. Escobar will be re-evaluated Friday.
When the Nationals took the field in the second, Rendon was at third and Danny Espinosa, who went 1-for-2 and was caught stealing, entered to play second.
Rendon finished fifth in National League MVP voting last season after hitting .287 with 21 home runs and 83 RBIs.
But he hadn't played in 2015 after spraining his knee during a spring training game and then straining his oblique during rehab.
"I had a frustrating first couple of months," Rendon said.
When Rendon, who played 134 games at third base last season, got hurt in spring training, Escobar moved from second to third. Williams said Escobar "has adapted fairly well to third base" and will remain there. Rendon went back to second, where he played primarily before last season.
"You hesitate to say anything about an everyday lineup, given what's gone on so far the first couple of months here, so we'll leave it at that," Williams said of the Nationals' injuries.
Rendon said he was OK with the decision to move him back to the other side of the diamond.
"I always tell the guys I feel the most comfortable with a bat in my hand," he said, "so as long as I'm out here to help the team, that's what I'm here for."
Rendon batted .250 during an eight-game injury rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Harrisburg.
The Nationals, who have lost six of seven while scoring a total of 15 runs, optioned right-hander Taylor Jordan to Triple-A Syracuse and infielder Wilmer Difo to Harrisburg.
Washington also recalled right-hander A.J. Cole from Syracuse for his third big league stint this year. The 23-year-old has a 5.79 ERA with one save in three games for the Nationals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
