Nationals reinstate Chien-Ming Wang from 60-day disabled list, option Roger Bernadina to Triple-A Syracuse

The Washington Nationals today reinstated right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang from the 60-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Roger Bernadina to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Wang will make his Nationals debut in tonight's series opener against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. The 31-year-old returns to the big leagues exactly two years after having his right shoulder capsule repaired by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on July 29, 2009. Since signing with the Nationals on Feb. 19, 2010, Wang has endured a significant recovery period which included six rehabilitation starts this season between June 27-July 24. He went a combined 2-1 with a 3.14 ERA, 17 strikeouts and just four walks in 28.2 innings pitched during his rehab assignment with Single-A Hagerstown, Single-A Potomac, Double-A Harrisburg and Syracuse. Wang is 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA in 109 career games/104 starts spanning five seasons (2005-09) with the New York Yankees. His .679 career winning percentage ranks second among active pitchers with 100 or more starts, behind only Boston's Jon Lester (.710/71-29). Perhaps best known for posting consecutive 19-win seasons for the Yankees in 2006 and '07, Wang's consistency afforded him the honor of starting the Yankees' first postseason contest in 2007 versus Cleveland and earned him the opening day nod in 2008. During the same two-year span, Wang led Major League Baseball with 38 wins and a .745 winning percentage while pacing the American League with 864 ground balls induced and a 2.9/1 ground ball-to-fly ball ratio. Bernadina, 27, batted .247 with nine doubles, two triples, five home runs, 20 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 71 games this season with Washington.