Nationals Recall Taylor and Turner, Option Giolito, and Place Zimmerman on DL

(Trea Turner, photo credit: wtop.com)

In four related moves on Friday, the Washington Nationals placed first baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day disabled list, optioned pitcher Lucas Giolito to AAA Syracuse, and recalled outfielder Michael A. Taylor and short stop Trea Turner from AAA Syracuse.

Zimmerman’s move to the disabled list, for a left rib cage strain, is retroactive to July 7. In Zimmerman’s last in-game appearance, on July 6 against the Milwaukee Brewers, he went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs and two RBIs. That performance came on the heels of a 4-for-34 slump over the previous nine games that had dropped his season batting average from .230 to .216.

Lucas Giolito currently ranks as the MLB’s number-1 top prospect. He was called up from AA Harrisburg on June 28 and made two starts, both against the New York Mets. In the first, at home, he went four scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and two walks on 45 pitches. His second appearance, in New York, he went three and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and four walks on 90 pitches. His return to the minors will be at AAA Syracuse.

Those two moves opened two spots on the roster for Taylor and Turner. Taylor has already seen extensive time with the Nationals, playing in 138 games last season and 60 so far this season. Despite being a top-level speedster on the bases and in the field, his struggles with making contact (.226 BA, 34% strikeout rate) and getting on base (.278 OBP, 6% walk rate) have made him a liability at the plate. Turner, MLB’s number-9 top prospect, is making his second appearance with Washington this year after being called up for a game in early June against the Cincinatti Reds. He went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk before being sent back down to AAA. In 83 games this season with Syracuse, Turner is batting .302 with a .370 OBP, has 22 doubles, 8 triples, has scored 61 runs and stolen 25 bases.