November 30, 2008 Austin Kearns is making favorable progress in his recovery from bone spurs in his right elbow and a stress fracture in his left foot, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. He isn't having any problems with his foot right now and is able to run and lift weights. He said, "It was kind of tough year. It's just something you have to learn from and get better from it."
Our View:He hopes to resume baseball related activities within a month. The oft-injured outfielder has missed 237 games over his last five seasons, and will remain a risky fantasy option for 2009 despite his favorable off-season progress.
November 24, 2008 Austin Kearns has failed to stay healthy and suffered through slumps, but may be given another shot to start for the Nationals, according to MLB.com.
Our View:Kearns has a strong work ethic and is respected in the Nationals' organization. Washington may give him another chance, but fantasy owners should continue to ignore the over-rated outfielder.
September 17, 2008 Austin Kearns has been shut down for the rest of the 2008 season due to an elbow and foot injuries, according to the AP.
Our View:Kearns has been out of the lineup since August 3 with his injuries. His .217 average and seven home runs in 2008 were the worst marks of his career.
August 26, 2008 Austin Kearns has been placed on the 15-day DL with a stress fracture in his left foot, according to the AP. The team is yet to announce a corresponding roster move.
Our View:Kearns is expected to miss two to four weeks with the injury, which he initially sustained on August 3.
August 22, 2008 Austin Kearns has been scratched from Friday's lineup due to recurring soreness in his elbow, according to the Washington Post.
Our View:The elbow surgery Kearns had at the end of May has left him fighting some residual soreness, something he has to attend to every day. He's generally fine when given a full day to recover between night games, but the night-to-day transition is difficult. Kearns' elbow is just feeling too stiff to start today.
