BALTIMORE -- The Nationals swapped out their backup outfielders prior to Monday's game against the Orioles, recalling outfielder Brian Goodwin from Triple-A Syracuse and optioning Rafael Bautista to Syracuse.
Bautista, the club's No. 12 prospect as rated by MLBPipeline.com, had been promoted to the Majors when Adam Eaton landed on the DL. But he has received limited playing time since his Major League debut on April 30. In five games, he went 1-for-8 and recorded his first Major League hit Saturday against the Phillies.
"Bautista needs to play," manager Dusty Baker said. "That's the main reason. Goodie's been here before and served in that role."
This will be Goodwin's second stint in the Majors and first this season. He made his MLB debut last season in 22 games toward the end of last season and hit .286 with four doubles and a triple in 22 games.
Goodwin would have been the likely choice to provide insurance in the outfield and replace Eaton on the roster, but he was struggling at Syracuse, hitting .246/.333/.277 at the time. But Goodwin, who said he was surprised to be passed over for the initial promotion to Washington, has been hitting .280 since April 29.
"Rafael definitely deserved it," Goodwin said. "He was playing great down there and he's got all the talent in the world, so he definitely deserved it. But it just made me want to work that much harder, be that much better for when I got my chance."
Mental break for Turner
• Trea Turner has been hitless in his last 13 at-bats and is in the midst of a 4-for-26 slump during the past week, so he received a "mental day off" Monday.
"He's played everyday since he got back from being hurt," Baker said. "It just looked like his concentration just wasn't the same and I could tell he was starting to worry a little bit, quite a bit."
Injury notes
• Baker said he was hopeful infielder Stephen Drew could begin a Minor League rehab assignment at some point this weekend.
• Both of the Nationals' co-closers, Shawn Kelley (back) and Koda Glover (hip), are on the disabled list, but both threw bullpen sessions Monday. It was the first for Glover since he landed on the DL, although Baker said he does not expect him to return during this four-game series against Baltimore. Kelley is eligible to return Friday.