Robles feeling "much better," will continue rehab in D.C.

Victor Robles bounded into the Nationals clubhouse this afternoon, bursting with the kind of energy that can mean only one thing: The injured outfielder is in a good mood about the current state of his body.

“Much better, thanks,” Robles said when asked how he’s feeling before making a beeline for Davey Martinez’s office to update the manager on the condition of his back.

Robles has played in only 36 games this season, only five since May 6 when he suffered his initial back injury sliding into second base in Arizona. After rehabbing that injury and returning to the active roster about six weeks later, he reinjured himself trying to make a lunging catch in center field before crashing into the wall.

That was five weeks ago. Robles has spent the bulk of that time at the Nationals’ spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., rehabbing and getting treatment. He still hasn’t progressed to the point where he’s doing any baseball activities, but the team is moving his home base back to D.C. to keep a closer eye on him and monitor his progress in person.

“I talked to him for a little bit in my office and he said he feels much better,” Martinez said. “We want to get eyes on him, get him moving around a little bit, and then we’ll go from there. He always has that bubbly energy, but it’s good to see him here.”

Robles will spend the rest of his time rehabbing in Washington, even when the Nats go on the road. Once he’s ready, he’ll be sent out on a minor league rehab assignment.

Given what happened the last time the Nationals activated Robles off the 10-day injured list, there doesn’t appear to be any rush to get him back until he’s clearly 100 percent healthy again.

“We’re definitely going to take our time this time around,” Martinez said. “But he feels good. He’s doing a lot of different exercises to make sure he’s strengthening the core, keeping the pressure off the back a little bit. Hopefully everything goes well.”

Though it’s been a while since he played, Robles has produced when healthy this season. In his 36 games, he’s batting .299 with a .385 on-base percentage and .749 OPS. All other Nationals center fielders are batting a collective .205 with a .282 on-base percentage and .581 OPS.

Other injury updates …

* Hunter Harvey (right elbow strain) is feeling much better since landing on the 15-day IL last week and may be ready to begin playing catch, according to Martinez. The reliever feared a serious injury when he experienced elbow pain following his first appearance out of the All-Star break, but is now confident he did not suffer anything that serious.

* Carl Edwards Jr. (right shoulder inflammation) is scheduled to throw off a bullpen mound Tuesday in West Palm Beach, then progress to facing live hitters for the first time since he went on the IL one month ago.

* Tanner Rainey (Tommy John surgery) threw off the bullpen mound today in West Palm and is scheduled to face live hitters a few more times before the Nationals send him on a rehab assignment, the final step in his yearlong recovery from elbow ligament replacement surgery.

* Paolo Espino (right ring finger sprain) received a cortisone shot in his hand and will have to wait a few days before he can resume throwing.

* Thaddeus Ward (right shoulder inflammation) threw long toss this weekend and is scheduled to throw off a mound Tuesday.