From the Nationals …
The Washington Nationals today optioned left-handed reliever Ray King to Columbus of the Triple-A International League and selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Mike O’Connor from Columbus. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.
O’Connor, 27, joins the Nationals after going 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA (5 ER/23.0 IP) in four International League starts with the Clippers. While in the International League, O’Connor struck out 7.8 batters per 9.0 innings and posted a stingy .221 (19-for-86) batting average against. In O’Connor’s two most recent assignments (April 14 at Charlotte and April 19 vs. Indianapolis), both wins, he walked just one, struck out 14 and was touched for just two runs in 13.0 innings.
King, 34, posted four holds and a 5.68 ERA (4 ER/6.1 IP) in 12 appearances with Washington in 2008.
It will be interesting to see how the Nationals handle this one. Whether they move Matt Chico to the King role and put O’Connor in the rotation, or just simply replace King with O’Connor in the pen.
markfd | 24-Apr-08 at 10:52 pm | Permalink
Bowden said O’Connor will be the long reliever as he needs someone to eat innings since the starters cannot make it into the 6th inning