Nats Roster Changes

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.