Nationals 2B Espinosa's new approach could pay off

VIERA, Fla. (AP) — Davey Johnson likes the new approach second baseman Danny Espinosa is taking at the plate.

The Nationals manager says he likes where Espinosa is at. He says his infielder has "got a shorter stroke, which is good. You can tell he feels healthy."

The 25-year-old Espinosa, in fact, said he hasn't felt this good in a long time, even though he will be playing this season with a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder.

Espinosa, played with the shoulder injury through September and the playoffs, but not discover the severity of it until the offseason. In a joint decision between the player, the Nationals and Dr. Lewis Yocum, the decision was made to rehabilitate the injury instead of opting for surgery.