NATIONALS REINSTATE RHP STEPHEN STRASBURG FROM DL & ADD SIX PLAYERS TO ACTIVE ROSTER

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg from the 60-Day Disabled List, recalled right-handed pitchers Yunesky Maya and Craig Stammen, left-handed pitcher Atahualpa Severino and outfielder Corey Brown from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and selected right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock and infielder Steve Lombardozzi from Syracuse. Additionally, the club transferred right-handed pitcher Cole Kimball to the 60-Day DL, unconditionally released right-handed pitcher Adam Carr and designated right-handed pitcher Garrett Mock for assignment. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Strasburg is slated to make his 2011 debut tonight vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, just over a year after undergoing “Tommy John” ligament-replacement surgery on Sept. 3, 2010. The 23-year-old went 1-1 with a 3.54 ERA in six rehab starts this season, posting 29 strikeouts and just three walks in 20.1 innings pitched.

In 12 starts with the Nationals in 2010, Strasburg went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts. He was selected by the Nationals with the first-overall pick in the ’09 First-Year Player Draft.

The 30-year-old Maya is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in five starts this season with Washington. In 22 starts with Syracuse in 2011, he posted a 4-9 record and 5.00 ERA.

Stammen is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two relief appearances this season with the Nationals. The 27-year-old went 10-7 with a 4.75 ERA in 25 games/24 starts in 2011 with the Chiefs.

Severino returns for his third career stint with the Nationals. In 35 relief appearances with Syracuse this season, the 26-year-old went 1-2 with one save and a 4.50 ERA.

Brown batted .235 with 18 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, 39 RBI and four stolen bases in 124 games this season with the Chiefs. The 25-year-old posted a .330 batting average, .413 on-base percentage and .549 slugging percentage with five home runs and 14 RBI in his final 29 Triple-A games, beginning Aug. 2. A first-round pick (59th overall) by Oakland in the ’07 First-Year Player Draft, Brown was acquired from the Athletics along with right-hander Henry Rodriguez in exchange for outfielder Josh Willingham in December 2010.

An Eastern League All-Star and a participant in this season’s XM All-Star Futures Game, Peacock went 15-3 with a 2.39 ERA and 177 strikeouts in 25 games/22 starts in 2011 with Syracuse and Double-A Harrisburg. The 23-year-old ranks among all minor league pitchers in wins (second), strikeouts (seventh) and strikeouts per 9.0 innings (10.86, fifth). Peacock, who was tabbed the No. 10 prospect in the Nationals’ system entering 2011 by Baseball America, is 34-38 with a 3.93 ERA in 113 games/101 starts during his five-year career. He was selected by Washington in the 41st round of the ’06 First-Year Player Draft.

Lombardozzi batted .309 with 25 doubles, nine triples, eight home runs, 52 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 134 games this season with Syracuse and Harrisburg. The son of former Twins/Astros second baseman Steve Lombardozzi, Sr., the 22-year-old Lombardozzi was selected by the Nationals in the 19th round of the ’08 First-Year Player Draft and hit .298 with 17 homers, 183 RBI and 74 stolen bases during his four seasons in the minor leagues.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2011

STEPHEN STRASBURG TO MAKE REHAB START IN SYRACUSE

Nationals right-handed phenom is scheduled to start for Chiefs on Saturday, August 27

Syracuse, NY—The Syracuse Chiefs, Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, are pleased to announce that the Nationals have scheduled right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg to start at Alliance Bank Stadium on Saturday, August 27 when the Chiefs take on the Rochester Red Wings. Game time is slated for 7:00 P.M with a postgame fireworks display on tap presented by 105.9 FM The Big Talker and Time Warner Cable Sports.

The 23-year-old Strasburg is on a Major League rehab assignment after surgery last season to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. He has made four Minor League starts after the “Tommy John” surgery. Three of those appearances came with Single-A Hagerstown while one appearance came with Advanced-A Potomac.

Strasburg, selected first overall in the 2009 entry draft out of San Diego State, made six starts (four at home) with the Chiefs last season. In 33 innings and a third, he allowed 18 hits and walked seven compared to 38 strikeouts. He surrendered just four earned runs, making his Syracuse earned run average 1.08. In four of his starts, Strasburg left the game without having given up a run. In addition, opponents hit .154 against Strasburg in his time in the International League.

Strasburg made his Major League debut on June 8 of last season against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He earned the win, allowing just two earned runs in seven innings while striking 14 out. He is the first Major League pitcher ever to strike out at least eleven without a walk in his Major League debut. Strasburg also set the Major League record for strikeouts in his first three games with 32. In 12 MLB starts before his injury, Strasburg compiled a 2.57 ERA. He struck out at least seven in nine of those 12 starts. He struck out 92 in 68 innings and walked just 17.

The Chiefs begin their penultimate homestand of the season tonight at 7:00 P.M. as they take on the Pawtucket Red Sox. Tickets for all six remaining home dates of the season can be purchased by calling 315-474-7833, online at SyracuseChiefs.com, or in person at the stadium ticket office.

Press Release:

STEPHEN STRASBURG TO PITCH IN POTOMAC FRIDAY

Makes Second Rehab Start Since Tommy John Surgery

August 8, 2011

(WOODBRIDGE, VA) Stephen Strasburg will pitch for the Potomac Nationals on Friday night in Woodbridge, VA. The former top pick in the 2009 Amateur Draft will make his second rehab start since undergoing Tommy John surgery last September, and will lead the Nationals against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the opener of a three-game series.

The gates to Pfitzner Stadium will open at 5 P.M., and the first 2,000 fans through the gate with a ticket will receive a free souvenir numbered raffle ticket for a chance to win Strasburg’s game-worn autographed jersey.

Strasburg, who struck out 92 in 12 starts in 2010, including 14 in his electrifying Major League debut, posted a 2.91 ERA in his first season with the Washington Nationals. He walked 17 and allowed only 56 hits in 68 innings en route to a 5-3 record.

The righthander made his first rehab appearance on Sunday for the Hagerstown Suns. He allowed one earned run on three hits over an inning and two thirds and tossed 31 pitches, 25 of which were strikes.

Friday night is also Ian Desmond Bobblehead night at Pfitzner Stadium: the first 1,000 fans through the gates will get a fantastic collectible that honors the former Potomac great and current Washington shortstop.

To get tickets for Friday’s game, fans should visit the club’s website at http://www.potomacnationals.com/. The ticket office will be open Wednesday morning at 8 A.M.; fans can call 703-590-2311 to get their seats.

Updated 6/10/2011, 7:00pm - RHP Ryan Mattheus will wear uniform # 52.
Press Release:

NATIONALS SELECT RHP RYAN MATTHEUS FROM SYRACUSE,

PLACE RHP COLE KIMBALL ON DISABLED LIST

The Washington Nationals today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed right-handed pitcher Cole Kimball (right shoulder inflammation) on the 15-Day Disabled List. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Mattheus (pronounced math-yooz) posted two saves and 10.0 scoreless innings during nine relief appearances with the Chiefs. Including a 13-game stint with Double-A Harrisburg, he is 2-1 with six saves and a 1.46 ERA in 22 appearances in 2011. Mattheus has a .143 batting average against with 28 strikeouts in 24.2 innings this season.

The 27-year-old is 3-2 with six saves and a 1.25 ERA in 32 games/four starts since returning from July 2009 “Tommy John” ligament-replacement surgery on July 31, 2010.

Mattheus was acquired from the Colorado Rockies on July 31, 2009, just weeks after his ligament-replacement surgery, as part of a three-player trade that sent left-handed pitcher Joe Beimel to Colorado. He is 32-42 with 23 saves and a 4.93 ERA in 193 games/88 starts during his career.

Kimball, 25, is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 12 games this season with Washington.

RHP Cole Kimball

(Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)