WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Aiming toward his goal to be ready for the start of Spring Training, Howie Kendrick rehabbed vigorously during the offseason. Not only was he ready to start the spring on time, but his legs felt so good that he started the Nationals' Grapefruit League opener at second base. He has started games as the designated hitter, at third base and at first, where he started Tuesday afternoon in an 8-4 loss to the Red Sox.

While running out an RBI infield single in the third inning, Kendrick felt his left hamstring grab about three-quarters of the way down the first-base line. He immediately signaled to the dugout to take himself out of the game, slamming his helmet in the dugout in frustration. The Nats announced he was diagnosed with a strained left hamstring, which manager Dave Martinez called mild. Kendrick will likely receive an MRI and is day to day.

"I don't know how severe it is right now," said Kendrick. "Right when I felt it, I tried to slow down as much as possible. That's all I can really tell you right now. It just grabbed on me. Hopefully it's not that bad."

The diagnosis gives the Nationals some relief considering Kendrick, 35, tore his right Achilles tendon last May on the warning track in left field. The team entered camp unsure of his status eight months removed from surgery. It's one of the reasons the Nats pivoted from their initial stance this offseason that they did not need a second baseman and ended up signing Brian Dozier to a one-year deal to be the starter. The move pushed Kendrick to a utility role and pinch-hitter off the bench, which would also help keep him fresh.

A few Nationals players and manager Dave Martinez said they considered Kendrick almost another addition from this busy offseason. His 2018 season was cut short after just 40 games, but he was productive at the plate, posting a .303/.331/.474 slash line for a 110 OPS+.

Kendrick surprised Martinez by showing no signs of the injury through the first three weeks of camp. Kendrick had participated in workouts without any restrictions, and Tuesday was just his fifth Grapefruit League game. At the start of camp, Martinez had planned to monitor Kendrick's playing time, even if he had been feeling healthy.

"My legs ... they haven't really been bothering me at all," Kendrick said. "Just doing a continued maintenance on them, but these things happen. You can't really foresee it. All you can do is play baseball. It kind of sucks that it happened, but I guess if it's going to happen, it's better before the season than during the season."