Nationals reinstate OF Michael Morse from DL, option OF Corey Brown to Syracuse

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated outfielder Michael Morse from the 15-Day Disabled List and optioned Corey Brown to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Morse began the season on the DL and missed the Nationals’ first 50 games with a latissimus dorsi strain. The 30-year-old batted .381 (8-for-21) with three doubles, one home run and five RBI in seven rehab games with Potomac (Single-A), Hagerstown (Single-A) and Harrisburg (Double-A).

Morse led the Nationals in nearly every substantial offensive category in 2011, batting .303 with 36 doubles, 31 home runs and 95 RBI in 146 contests. He ranked among the NL’s leaders for batting (ninth), home runs (tied for ninth), RBI (10th), doubles (tied for ninth) and slugging percentage (.550, fourth).

During seven MLB seasons with Seattle (2005-08) and Washington (2009-11), Morse is batting .296 with 69 doubles, three triples, 52 home runs and 183 RBI in 383 contests.

Brown, 26, appeared in three games this season with Washington.