According to several media reports, Washington Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth had a CT scan done and it revealed that he has two fractures in his left wrist. As a result, Werth will be out until at least August, possibly longer. The left fielder has been out since May 15 after being hit on the left wrist by San Diego Padres pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne and had been dealing with swelling ever since. Werth had already had an MRI done, which showed only a bruise, but obviously the swelling was too much for the MRI to pick up.

Werth has had issues with his left wrist as far back as 2005, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Werth was hit by a pitch during spring training and ended up tearing a ligament in the wrist. In 2012, Werth broke the same wrist on a sliding attempt on a shallow fly ball and was out for three months. This time, when the discomfort in his wrist wouldn’t subside, Werth decided it was a good idea to go see the same wrist specialist who worked on him the previous two times, which revealed the fractures.

It’s a tough pill to swallow for Werth, who is 35 and on the downside of his career. The older he gets and the more problems he has with the wrist, the more I wonder if the end is near. Ever since breaking his wrist in 2012, Werth hasn’t been the same player for the Nationals. He’s a singles hitter at this point in his career, as he has lost the majority of his power due to the weakness in the wrist and shoulder surgery. In the 27 games he has played in 2015, Werth only has a .208 average with two homers and 12 RBIs.

As far as the Nationals are concerned, it’s not a big issue for the team. Michael A. Taylor is their top outfield prospect, and he has been relegated to a bench role most of the season, even being sent down to Triple-A at one time. Taylor is ready to contribute at the MLB level, and now he will get a regular opportunity to show what he can do. He was impressive during April, when Denard Span missed the first few weeks of the year. An outfield of Taylor, Span and Bryce Harper is still one of the best groups in MLB.

Werth’s biggest value to the Nationals is his leadership in the clubhouse. He is like another manager for the team, who knows what it takes to win and how to get them there. Despite his injuries and recent ineffectiveness on the field, Werth’s role is more important now that it ever has been for the Nationals. The guys in that clubhouse need him to be there for them and give them guidance as they prepare to make another playoff run.

Jason Fletcher is a MLB Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+.

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