WASHINGTON -- Nearly two months after Paul DeJong experienced a scary injury from being struck in the face by a fastball, he is getting closer to the beginning of a rehab assignment.
“I've done just about everything else I needed to do, as far as running and ground balls and throwing, hitting in the cage, getting my body ready,” DeJong said. “So all that is good, and now I'm getting close.”
DeJong sustained a fractured nose on April 15 at PNC Park when he was hit by a mislocated 92.7 mph four-seamer from Mitch Keller. He is scheduled to meet with his surgeon on Saturday, and manager Dave Martinez said he could be cleared to start a rehab assignment early next week.
“We’ll sit down and talk to him, we’ll see where our affiliates are at,” said Martinez. “I’d like for him to take it easy the first couple times, maybe two at-bats or so and then go from there.”
On Wednesday, DeJong faced a pitcher for the first time. He took three at-bats in a sim game against right-hander Derek Law, who is recovering from right forearm inflammation, during the road series at Citi Field. He felt comfortable stepping into the box against his veteran teammate.
“It was good to get in the box in kind of a controlled setting,” DeJong said. “I didn't really have any hesitations about seeing pitches. There were no close calls really inside, which I didn't really expect from a guy like Derek, because everything kind of cuts away from righties. But overall, I felt happy to be in there and I felt like it was a step in the right direction.”
DeJong wore a batting helmet with a C-Flap for protection. He made contact and worked through situational counts. His approach was encouraging to the Nationals' staff.
“[There was] no flinching,” said Martinez. “He stayed in there and hung in there. Some of the sliders, he looked normal to me, which was awesome. If we can continue to get him to do that and he goes down there and works good at-bats, that would be great. It really would.
“You never know when you get hit like that -- thank God I never did get hit in the face -- but I’ve seen a lot of guys react differently. And he’s been great.”
DeJong, a nine-year veteran, was glad to return to familiar game-day activities. DeJong continued his progression when the Nationals returned home on Friday. He took batting practice again on the field ahead of the series opener vs. the Marlins, in which the Nats fell, 11-9.
“It was cool to feel like I was competing again. I missed that part of everything,” DeJong said, pausing and then saying with a laugh: “That was short-lived [on Wednesday] -- because then I had to run the bases hard.”
Moving forward, DeJong will continue to wear the special batting helmet and the glasses he usually wears in the field for day games. He is considering a pair of clear glasses as well.
“I’m sure the first time he steps in the box, it’s going to be different for him,” Martinez said. “But only time will tell. He’s going to go out there and face it. I’m not looking for him to go out there and all of a sudden hit a home run. … I want him to go work on his at-bats, but see some pitches, get comfortable seeing pitches. Especially, balls in, that’s going to be a key.”
As DeJong spoke about his recovery status on Friday afternoon, he frequently flashed a smile when the conversation focused on his impending next steps. What does that big grin represent?
“[It’s] just progress, I would say,” DeJong said. “Trusting that these guys took care of me, which they did. I felt like our progression has gone really well, and so I'm thankful that I'm getting close to coming back.”