Washington Nationals recall OF Nate Schierholtz from Triple-A
By Phil Watson
The Washington Nationals recalled outfielder Nate Schierholtz, released by the Chicago Cubs less than two weeks ago, from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday.
Schierholtz is expected to be available for the Nationals when they play the San Francisco Giants when they meet at 4:05 p.m. Eastern.
The team announced the move on its website Saturday. To make room for Schieholtz, who was signed to a minor-league contract on Aug. 18, the Nationals transferred outfielder Nate McLouth to the 60-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Michael Taylor to Syracuse.
Schierholtz was a middle-of-the-order bat for the Cubs in 2013, hitting .251/.301/.470 with 32 doubles, 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 137 games, but he slumped badly this season. At the time of his release, Schierholtz was hitting just .192/.240/.300 in 99 games, with 10 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 33 RBI. He had more strikeouts (76) than hits (60).
Schierholtz is an eight-year MLB veteran who has also had stints with the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies.
He was a second-round pick of the Giants in 2003 out of Chabot College in the Bay Area and made his big league debut in June 2007.
He signed as a free agent with the Cubs after his contract expired in 2012. He went to the Phillies as part of the trade that sent All-Star Hunter Pence to the Giants.
He is a career .254/.303/.406 hitter with 51 home runs in 776 MLB games. He has proven to be an effective pinch-hitter in his career, hitting .289/.335/.428 with four home runs in 182 career appearances in that role.