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Report: Eaton out for season with torn ACL

Brad Mills / USA TODAY Sports

Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, sources told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Eaton left Friday's game against the New York Mets in the ninth inning with the help of the team's training staff after landing awkwardly on first base. He was placed on the disabled list Saturday after undergoing an MRI which revealed a sprain in his left knee.

The disastrous development comes with the Nationals entering Saturday leading the league in wins. They also own the second-best run differential (plus-30). In Eaton's absence, the team is expected to use Michael Taylor in center field and keep Trea Turner, who started 44 games there last season, at shortstop.

Washington acquired Eaton in a blockbuster offseason deal, sending the Chicago White Sox three of its top prospects - Lucas Giolito, Dane Dunning, and Reynaldo Lopez - in exchange. The diminutive Eaton has been one of baseball's most productive outfielders over the past few years, compiling 15.4 WAR and a .290/.362/.422 line since 2014.

In his first 23 games with the Nationals, he hit .297/.393/.462 with two home runs and 13 RBIs. Eaton's on an extremely reasonable contract - he'll earn a combined $18.4 million until 2019, and has a $9.5-million team option in 2020 followed by a $10.5-million team option in 2021.

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