Rockies Add Four Players To Acitve Major League Roster

Published on September 8, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


DENVER - The Colorado Rockies announced the following roster moves today: Outfielder Matt Murton and right-handed pitchers Jhoulys Chacin were recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs. The club also selected the contracts of right-handed pitcher Matt Belisle and infielder Mike McCoy from Colorado Springs. In order to make room on the 40-man roster for Belisle and McCoy, right-handed pitcher Adam Eaton was designated for assignment and infielder Chris Nelson was recalled from Double-A Tulsa and placed on the 60-day disabled list. Murton (#14), Chacin (#45), Belisle (#34) and McCoy (#18) all will be in uniform for tonight's Rockies vs. Reds game at Coors Field. Right-handed pitcher Matt Herges has changed his uniform to No. 32.

Murton, 27, will join the Major League club for the third time this season. Murton began the season with Triple-A Colorado Springs before being recalled April 29. He was on the Rockies active roster for more than a month before being optioned to Colorado Springs June 5. The outfielder recently spent one day on the active roster, August 25, before being optioned back to the minors. Murton has played in 22 games for the Rockies this season, hitting .267 (12-for-45) with 5 doubles, one home run and 6 RBI. In 97 games with the Sky Sox, he hit .324 (121-for-373) with 27 doubles, 12 home runs and 79 RBI. Earlier this season he hit safely in a Sky Sox franchise-record 29 consecutive games, breaking the record 28-game hitting streak. Murton has played in 339 games in the Majors over parts of five seasons with the Chicago Cubs (2005-2008), Oakland (2008) and Colorado (2009).

Chacin, 21, will be appearing on the Major League roster for the second time this season. His contract was purchased from Double-A Tulsa on July 24, and he made his Major League debut the following day (July 25) vs. San Francisco. Chacin made 5 appearances (one start) for Colorado, going 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA (7.2 ip, 5 er) and 10 strikeouts. He was optioned to Colorado Springs on August 12 and pitched in the club's rotation through the end of the season. Chacin went 1-2 with a 3.77 ERA (14.1 ip, 6 er) in 4 starts with the Sky Sox, his first stop at Triple-A. Prior to having his contract purchased by Colorado on July 24, he began the season at Tulsa, where he went 8-6 with a 3.14 ERA (103.1 ip, 36 er) while being named a Texas League All-Star and pitching in the Futures Game. In 2008 he was named the Minor League Baseball Pitcher of the Year after combining to win 18 games between Asheville and Modesto. Prior to the start of the 2009 campaign, Chacin was rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the Rockies organization (top pitching prospect in Colorado organization). A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, Chacin was originally signed by Colorado as a non-drafted free agent on September 27, 2004.

Belisle, 29, will also be making his third appearance on the Rockies active roster this season. He joined the Rockies in early April after spending all of Spring Training in Major League camp. Belisle was a member of the Rockies active roster until being designated for assignment on May 25. His contract was purchased by Colorado on July 11, but he spent just five days with the club. The right-hander spent the rest of his season with the Sky Sox, making 33 appearances (4 starts) for the Triple-A club. Belisle went 1-1 with 9 saves and a 3.09 ERA (58.1 ip, 20 er) and 47 strikeouts for the Sky Sox. He logged a 1.83 ERA (39.1 ip, 8 er) as a reliever compared to a 5.68 ERA (19.0 ip, 12 er) as a starter, with each of his last 29 games coming in relief. Belisle has spent time at the Major League level in six of the last seven seasons. He owns a record of 17-23 with a 5.22 ERA in 147 career games (43 starts). Prior to the 2009 campaign he pitched in the Majors for five seasons with Cincinnati (2003, 2005-2008).

McCoy, 28, is appearing on a Major League roster for the first time in his career. He has spent the entire season at Triple-A Colorado Springs during his second season, first full season, with the Rockies organization. The versatile defender received starts at second base, third base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions. He hit .307 (142-for-462) with 27 doubles, 5 triples, 2 home runs, 52 RBI, 102 runs scored and 40 stolen bases for the Sky Sox this season. His 102 runs scored were tied for the 6th-highest total in Minor League Baseball this season. Additionally, his .405 on-base percentage led the Sky Sox club, and he finished the season with more walks (80) than strikeouts (70). Originally drafted in the 34th round of the 2002 June Draft by St. Louis out of the University of San Diego, the California native has appeared in a total of 859 minor league games since 2002.

Eaton, 31, made four appearances, going 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA (8.0 ip, 5 er) for the Rockies this season. He pitched the 13th and 14th innings on August 24 vs. San Francisco, picking up the win in relief. Eaton allowed 3 runs in the top of the 14th inning before walking and scoring on Ryan Spilborghs' game-ending grand slam in the bottom of the frame. The right-hander was signed by Colorado to a minor league contract on June 6, 2009, after being released by the Baltimore Orioles on May 26. He made 8 starts for the Orioles this season, going 2-5 with an 8.56 ERA (41.0 ip, 39 er) from April 12 through May 21. The Orioles signed Eaton as a minor league free agent on March 1 after he was released by Philadelphia on February 27.

Nelson, 24, has not played in a game since May 22. The infielder hit .280 (30-for-107) with 5 doubles, 2 triples and 4 home runs for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. Originally drafted by the Rockies in the first round (9th overall) of the 2004 June draft, Nelson has played six professional seasons in Colorado's organization. He entered the 2009 campaign rated as the 13th-best prospect in the Rockies system by Baseball America.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from September 8, 2009


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