Nationals backstop recovering from elbow injury

July 9, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Harrisburg Senators News Release

Harrisburg, PA - Washington Nationals C Johnny Estrada was added to the Senators' roster today on a major-league rehab assignment. He is recovering from a right elbow problem which has hampered him for most of the season. Estrada is slated to start behind the plate and bat fourth tonight against the New Britain Rock Cats at Commerce Bank Park at 6:35 PM.

Estrada, 32, signed with the Nationals over the off-season after batting .278 with 10 home runs last year for the Milwaukee Brewers. He underwent off-season surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow. Estrada was a National League All-Star in 2004 for the Atlanta Braves, batting .314 as the Braves won a National League Eastern Division championship.

He opened the season on Washington's Disabled List and was assigned to rehab with Triple-A Columbus. After four games with the Clippers, he returned to the Nationals for 17 games in April, batting .179 (7-for-39). Estrada went back onto the DL on May 9th with ulnar neuritis and has been playing in minor-league games since June 30th when he was assigned to the rookie Gulf Coast League for three games. Most recently, Estrada went 5-for-14 in four games with the Advanced-A Potomac Nationals, July 4th-7th.

With the move, the Senators have now had 52 players in uniform this season.

The Senators continue their seven-game homestand tonight at 6:35 PM against the New Britain Rock Cats (Minnesota Twins). Tickets can be purchased by calling the Senators offices at 231-4444 or online at www.senatorsbaseball.com.

Eastern League Stories from July 9, 2008

• Mets games notes - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
• Michael Bowden notches his 2nd win of the homestand - Portland Sea Dogs
• Aeros, Baysox Trade Shutouts in Split - Akron RubberDucks
• Portland pounds out 12 hits in 11-1 win Wednesday night - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
• Altoona quiets Trenton - Trenton Thunder
• Boone's blast lift Curves - Altoona Curve
• Baysox Keep Pace, Split Two With Aeros - Chesapeake Baysox
• 'Wolves snap skid - Erie SeaWolves
• Defenders blank Mets - Connecticut Defenders
• Mets routed by Defenders - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
• Sens win easily - Harrisburg Senators
• Rock Cats Ninth Homestand of 2008 - New Britain Rock Cats
• Aeros Notes - Akron RubberDucks
• Erie SeaWolves at Reading Phillies...Game Two of Three...Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
• Nationals backstop recovering from elbow injury - Harrisburg Senators
• Akron Aeros roster move - Akron RubberDucks
• Richie Lentz Joins Sea Dogs from Single-A Lancaster - Portland Sea Dogs
• Celebrate Roberto Clemente's Birthday at Thunder's Latin American Night - Trenton Thunder
• Minnesota Twins Holding Tryout Camp at New Britain Stadium - New Britain Rock Cats
• Seawolves Return Friday - Erie SeaWolves

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Harrisburg Senators Stories

• Late Rally Not Enough as Senators Fall 7-3 to Binghamton
• Senators Surge Ahead, Hold off Binghamton 7-3
• Harrisburg Senators Fall to Chesapeake Baysox in Extra Innings, 6-5
• Senators Outlast Chesapeake in 11-Inning Battle, 3-2
• Senators Silenced in Shortened Loss at Bowie