Manager Dusty Baker updated the status of left fielder Jayson Werth, who has been on the disabled list since June 4 with a left toe contusion and has missed nine games. Baker said the Nationals miss Werth as a baseball player but also as an important team leader.
"Jayson is doing pretty well," Baker said. "He's not as mobile as he would like to be. As you can tell, we miss Jayson. Not only on the field, but we miss Jayson in the clubhouse, on the bus. Jayson is a strength and presence."
Baker detailed how Werth can continue rehab without working in the left foot.
"He's trying everything to get back, but like I told you, your toes and hands take a while," Baker continued. "We are all encouraging him and he's encouraged to try to stay in tip-top shape in his core and in his hands, everything but his toe. We don't want him to run. He's using pulleys, doing a lot of swimming - the things that he can do to stay in shape. You'd hate for him to come back and then, like I explained to him, get hurt in another part. Pull a muscle or hurt your back.
"He's doing pretty good, (but) he's kind of going crazy."
The bullpen could use the return of left-hander Sammy SolÃs, who has been on the disabled list since April 19 with left elbow inflammation. The key has been the injury involves a nerve issue, so it has taken a bit longer than usual to get going again.
Baker revealed SolÃs took a big step to returning by throwing a simulated game today in West Palm Beach, Fla. The day as to when to begin the rehab assignment is the next decision.
"We're trying to make a determination on what the next step will be," Baker said. "Because if we send him on a rehab assignment, then there's a (30)-day window. So we've just got to make sure that before we send him out on a rehab assignment, he's not going to need any more time than that, even though it's not set in stone. We don't know."
SolÃs has missed 48 games.