Kearns eyes return to face the team that drafted him
Austin Kearns, on the disabled list since May 22nd with loose bodies in his right elbow, is expected to return to the Nationals and join the team in Cincinnati on Thursday. The Reds drafted him in the first round, 7th overall, in the 1998 draft and he spent the first five seasons in the Queen City, before being traded to the Nationals.
Kearns has been on a rehab assignment with the Columbus Clippers. He's been tearing up Triple-A pitching in his four games. Kearns has a .462 average (6-13) with a home run and six RBI.
Prior to landing on the DL, Kearns was hitting just .187 with three home runs and 16 RBI in 42 games. He was hitless in his last 11 at bats and just 2-33 before the injury.
Kearns came to the Nationals as part of an 8-player trade with the Reds on July 13, 2006, that also brought Felipe Lopez. In five seasons in Cincinnati, Kearns had a .267 average with 71 home runs and 263 RBI. In 2-plus seasons with the Nationals, Kearns has a .250 average with 27 homers and 126 RBI.
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