Outfielder Adam Eaton, who has played just 31 games over his first two seasons with the Washington Nationals because of injuries, expects to be back with the team on June 8 after a rehab assignment.
Eaton had surgery May 10 to repair a chondral flap in his left ankle that was causing pain and has been on the 60-day disabled list. He is expected to start his rehab assignment with Class AA Harrisburg on Friday.
"I feel way better than I did when I first came back. I feel way more confident than I did when I first came back," Eaton told reporters Wednesday. "Just because everything is fixed and in the right position. It's doing everything it needs to do. My body is in a really good place."
Eaton has played in just eight games this season, hitting two home runs with five RBIs. After signing with the Nationals in 2017, he saw action in just 23 games before suffering a torn ACL.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Eaton could slide into the center field spot upon his return.
"We haven't really thought about it yet, just because [Eaton's] not back," Martinez said. "But as it gets closer, we'll start playing around with it a little bit and see what's best for us."
