The names of the September call-ups have come out.
The Washington Nationals tomorrow are expected to purchase the contracts of infielder Melvin Dorta, outfielder George Lombard and right-handed pitchers Chris Booker and Brett Campbell from New Orleans of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Right-handed pitcher Beltran Perez is also expected to have his contract purchased from Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. Nationals Vice President/General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.
As mentioned in this morning’s farm report, RH RP Chris Booker is on his way to Washington. Joining Booker from New Orleans are RH RP Brett Campbell, OF George Lombard, and IF Melvin Dorta. Also, RH RP Beltran Perez from Harrisburg has been tabbed as a September roster call-up.
I’ve previously touched Booker, Lombard, and Dorta as possible call-up options. The trade of Daryle Ward and Marlon Anderson make Lombard’s LH bat more appealing off of the bench. Dorta can fill in as a super sub. And Booker can settle into a middle relief role in a heavily used Nationals bullpen, now down Kevin Gryboski.
Campbell’s selection seems curious given the Nationals’ plan to send him to the Arizona Fall League. GM Jim Bowden had previously stated that top prospect and AFL attendee 3B/OF Kory Casto would not be called up because he was “not a big believer in bringing up a young prospect to sit a month.” Campbell has pitched solidly in 2006, putting himself on the Nationals’ radar. If he is added some time over the next few days, Campbell will join Booker in middle relief.
Speaking of middle relief, the final name is Beltran Perez. Perez has spent the entire season in Harrisburg splitting his time between starting and relieving. He has posted a solid K/BB ratio (107/40) in his 121.2IP in 2006. Perez has bounced around the minor leagues of the DIamondbacks and Dodgers since 1999, never getting above AA. The 24-year old Perez could be called upon to pitch out of either the starting rotation or in long relief.
Full press release follows
The Washington Nationals tomorrow are expected to purchase the contracts of infielder Melvin Dorta, outfielder George Lombard and right-handed pitchers Chris Booker and Brett Campbell from New Orleans of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Right-handed pitcher Beltran Perez is also expected to have his contract purchased from Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. Nationals Vice President/General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.
Dorta, 24, joins the Nationals after hitting .433 (13-for-30) with one double, one homer, three RBI and three stolen bases in eight games with New Orleans . Dorta, who received his first taste of the big leagues during a two-game stint with the Nationals in July (he went 0-for-1), spent a majority of the season with Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. He batted .257 with 15 doubles, five home runs, 30 RBI and 30 stolen bases, and earned mid-season and year-end All-Star honors. Despite advancing to Triple-A and now the big leagues, Dorta’s 33 stolen bases still rank fourth in the Eastern League.
Lombard , 30, returns to the big leagues for the first time since 2003. He spent parts of five seasons with Atlanta (1998-2000), Detroit (2002) and Tampa Bay (2003). Lombard this year was signed by Washington as a minor league free agent prior to Spring Training, and went on to hit .302 with 10 doubles, 10 homers, 24 RBI, 35 runs and 19 steals in 62 games with New Orleans. He missed all of May and June with a left hip flexor strain. Lombard was originally drafted by the Braves in the second round of the 1994 draft, and was later rated by Baseball America as Atlanta ’s No. 2 prospect in 1999.
To date, Booker has pitched for five teams in three organizations this season, going a combined 2-2 with a 4.29 ERA (20 ER/42.0 IP). The 29 year-old Booker was 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 15 appearances for New Orleans at the time of the promotion. Booker signed with the Nationals as a minor-league free agent on November 21, 2005, but was then selected by Detroit in the Triple-A Phase of the 2005 Rule 5 Draft. The Tigers then dealt Booker to Philadelphia . After spending the season’s first month in the Phillies system, Booker was claimed off waivers by Kansas City . He returned to the Nationals, per Rule 5 guidelines, on July 14, and was assigned to New Orleans .
Campbell , 24, pitched at three levels in the Nationals’ system this season, going a combined 3-5 with 16 saves and a 3.12 ERA, before being promoted to the big leagues for the first time. This season, Campbell has averaged 10.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings en route to posting a batting average against of .237. The Expos’ 34th-round selection in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, last year worked 26.2 consecutive scoreless innings to begin his second professional season with Savannah of the Single-A South Atlantic League.
Perez, 24, went 8-6 with one save and a 3.11 ERA in 31 games (16 starts) for Harrisburg , including a 3-1 record and a 1.95 ERA (6 ER/27.2 IP) in six games (four starts) in August. He started the year in the bullpen, posting a 3.32 ERA (8 ER/21.2 IP) over 12 appearances before joining the starting rotation May 21. Perez has made three spot relief appearances since leaving the bullpen, including his most recent outing of 2.1 scoreless innings Tuesday at Bowie (Orioles). He was signed by Washington as a minor league free agent prior to the 2006 season, and has never pitched above the Double-A level.
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