Daniel Nava Finding Ways to Contribute Offensively, Defensively After DL Stint

Finally healthy, Daniel Nava is shining once again.

Nava, who spent the majority of August on the disabled list with a wrist injury, has performed masterfully as of late, making spectacular defensive plays against the Blue Jays while also contributing at the plate.

During Saturday's 3-2 win, Nava leaped into the left-field wall to rob Rajai Davis of extra bases. On Friday night, the 29-year-old uncorked a two-run single in the fifth inning that lifted the team to a lead.

"It's been a while since I've been out there,'' Nava told reporters in Toronto. "So to get an opportunity to be in that situation and have a count where I was able to get a pitch to do something with, it felt really good. Especially, since the other night (against the Yankees), I had a couple of opportunities and wasn't able to even move the runner over or even get a runner in on a sac fly.
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"It was like, 'Gosh, that's how it feels again,' after so long.''

It's quite the reminder of his performance from May to June. Shortly after his call up on May 10 — his first appearance since the end of the 2010 season — Nava was an on-base machine.

But the highlight of his weekend took place in Friday's win. In the
eighth inning of the game, with the score tied 5-5, he sprawled onto the
Rogers Centre turf to rob Adam Lind of a hit. He nearly doubled off Brett Lawrie at second base with his throw.

"I thought it was it was in the gap, so I was heading that way," Nava said. "It kind of came back. Instincts took over because I didn't think I was going to have to dive for it. It just happened.''

Through 73 games this season, Nava has produced four home runs and 29 RBIs.