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Washington Nationals

Ryan Church

7/22/2006

The Nationals recalled Church from Triple-A New Orleans on Saturday when they optioned right-handed reliever Kevin Gryboski. Church, who has had two stints in the minors this season, hit .215 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 23 games for the Nationals earlier this year. Washington needed another outfielder after Alex Escobar hurt his right hamstring in Friday's 7-6 win over Chicago.

5/20/2006

The Washington Nationals have optioned Church to Double-A Harrisburg. The outfielder was sent down after going 0-for-4 in a 5-1 loss to Baltimore on Friday, dropping his average to .215 in 22 games. He's 4-for-23 in May.

4/16/2006

Church hit a pair of two-run homers -- his first hits this season -- in the Nationals' 7-5 win over the Florida Marlins on Sunday. The 27-year-old Washington outfielder finished 2-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs.

3/28/2006

The Washington Nationals optioned Church to Triple-A New Orleans Tuesday, a move that turns over center field to rookie Brandon Watson and Marlon Byrd. Church established himself as a solid Rookie of the Year candidate last season before suffering a ribcage injury at the end of June. He didn't hit much the rest of the way, but still finished with hitting percentages of .287/.353/.466 in 102 games. He was a .325 hitter at the All-Star break.

9/9/2005

The Washington Nationals activated Church from the disabled list Friday, prior to the Nationals' game against division rival Atlanta. Church looked like a serious Rookie of the Year contender in late June, but a ribcage injury and a broken toe have slowed him down. So did the trade that brought outfielder Preston Wilson to the Nationals.

8/25/2005

X-rays have revealed that Church has a broken toe on his right foot, an injury suffered when he was hit by a pitch in Wednesday's meeting with the Cincinnati Reds. The Nationals have placed the outfielder on the 15-day disabled list and plan to recall Marlon Byrd from Triple-A New Orleans to fill the spot on the roster.

7/13/2005

Out since June 23 with a Grade 1 shoulder separation, Church was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday. The Washington left fielder is hitting .325 with seven homers and 28 RBI in 160 at-bats this season. His return means Marlon Byrd will play less in the Nationals' outfield.

7/10/2005

Church could be activated from the disabled list as soon as today, as Tony Blanco is suffering from a sinus infection that has caused vertigo symptoms. Church has been out since June 23 with a Grade 1 shoulder separation.

6/30/2005

Church has not recovered from his strained shoulder as quickly as the Nationals would have hoped, so the team has placed him on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 23. The outfielder suffered a Grade 1 separation of the shoulder when he collided with the outfield wall while making a catch in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates last week. Marlon Byrd should see most of the starts in left field during his absence.

6/27/2005

Church has been sidelined since colliding wtih the outfield wall while making a catch in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates last week. Tests have revealed that the Nationals' outfielder has a Grade 1 separation of his left shoulder, an injury that is not considered severe. He will continue to receive treatment on a regular basis, and the team is hopeful that he will be back in the lineup within the next couple of days.

6/9/2005

Church went 4-for-5 with a solo homer and a two-run triple on Wednesday, boosting Washington to a 7-2 win over Oakland. The rookie outfielder has been red-hot since the start of May. In his last 27 games, he is 34-for-83 (.410) with seven doubles, two triples, three homers and 19 RBI.

5/4/2005

With Terrmel Sledge sidelined with a hamstring injury, Church will step back into the Nationals' starting lineup and get the majority of the starts in left field. The 27-year-old, who lost the everyday job late last month, currently is batting .208 with two home runs and five RBI in 21 games this season.

Veteran Jeffrey Hammonds could get a couple of looks as well, but expect Church to get most of the work in Sledge's absence.

4/22/2005

Because of his recent struggles, Church has lost his job as the Washington Nationals' everyday center fielder. The team plans to shift Brad Wilkerson from left field to center and insert Terrmel Sledge in the starting lineup in left. In 12 games this season, Church is batting just .152 with one home run and three RBI.

Sledge supplies the Nationals with a little more speed on the bases. Church will serve as the team's fourth outfielder for the time being.

4/11/2005

As anticipated, Church returned to action over the weekend after missing some time with tightness in his right groin. However, he got the nod in left field instead of his normal spot in center. The move is considered precautionary, according to manager Frank Robinson, and Church will move back to the middle once the groin is no longer a problem. Brad Wilkerson will remain in center field for the time being.

Church went 2-for-5 with his first home run of the season in his return on Saturday. For the year, he is 2-for-10 with three strikeouts in three games.

4/7/2005

Manager Frank Robinson expected Church to return to the Nationals' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, but the outfielder was out again, due to tightness in his right groin. According to Robinson, Church will sit on Thursday as well, but should be available for Friday's meeting with the Florida Marlins. He continues to be listed as day-to-day.

Until Church is back in the lineup, regular left fielder Brad Wilkerson will man center, while Terrmel Sledge will handle the left-field duties. Church batted .268 with one home run, seven RBI and two stolen bases in 22 games this spring and was given the starting center-field job after Endy Chavez was optioned to the minor leagues.

4/5/2005

As a precautionary measure, Church was held out of the Nationals' lineup for Monday's season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies because of tightness in his right groin. The center fielder, who first experienced the problem on Sunday, will be on the field for Wednesday's game, according to manager Frank Robinson. With Church sidelined, the Nationals shifted Brad Wilkerson from left field to center and gave Terrmel Sledge the nod in left.

Church batted .268 with one home run, seven RBI and two stolen bases in 22 games this spring and was given the starting center-field job after Endy Chavez was optioned to the minor leagues.

4/4/2005

Church likely will miss some time this week after leaving Sunday's exhibition finale with tightness in his right groin. The Nationals' outfielder, who batted .268 with one home run, seven RBI and two stolen bases in 22 games this spring, was slated to begin the 2005 campaign as the club's starting center fielder.

With Church sidelined, the Nationals likely will shift Brad Wilkerson from left field to center and give Terrmel Sledge the nod in left. The injury does not sound serious, so for now, consider Church as day-to-day.