Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa will undergo surgery tomorrow in Baltimore to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his right wrist. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Ken Means at the Curtis National Hand Center.
It is the same surgery that third baseman Ryan Zimmerman had done in the 2008 offseason. Top catching prospect Derek Norris also had the surgery last fall. Espinosa, 23, is expected to rest six weeks and be ready for spring training in February. He experienced the hand pain while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico.
This surgery can cause problems, especially in younger hitters. Norris saw a noticeable drop in his power numbers from 2009 to 2010 – though he also claimed that was because of a separate hand injury from an attempted stolen base. It wasn’t until the end of the minor-league season and in the Arizona Fall League that Norris again demonstrated that power. But there are almost never long-term affects.
Espinosa showed promise in the big leagues at the end of 2010 and seems the logical candidate to start at second base for the Nats next spring. He has the ability to be an elite defensive second baseman – or even shortstop, if needed. Espinosa hit 22 homers in the minors and another six in 28 games with Washington with four doubles and a triple. He’s no sure thing at the plate, though, with 30 strikeouts and nine walks during his initial big-league stint. Espinosa’s on-base percentage was just .277 and he posted a .723 OPS.
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