Baseball: Injury to sideline Nationals' Pena for 4 weeks
Associated Press
VIERA, Fla. — Washington Nationals outfielder Wily Mo Pena will miss about four weeks because of a tear in his left oblique muscle.
An MRI revealed a significant muscle tear. Team officials said Friday that Pena could require a month to recover.
In order to allow him to heal, Pena will be kept at a very low level of activity while working his way back, the team said in a statement.
Pena hurt himself Wednesday during batting practice. The 26-year-old outfielder was projected to be the starting left fielder for the Nationals.
Elijah Dukes becomes the likely starter in place of Pena, but Alex Escobar and Ryan Langerhans also will receive consideration.
Last season Pena split the season with the Boston Red Sox and the Nationals. In 73 games with the Red Sox, Pena hit .218 with five home runs and 17 RBIs, but in 37 games with the Nationals, he hit .293 with eight homers and 22 RBIs. This spring, Pena was hitting .226 with one homer and four RBIs in 31 at-bats.
