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Six minor leaguers join the Rockies' 40-man list

Six minor leaguers join the 40-man list

By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 20, 2008 at 4:08 p.m.

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The Rockies added six minor leaguers to their winter roster Thursday and outrighted Triple-A Colorado Springs catcher Edwin Bellorin.

Pitchers Shane Lindsay, Ryan Mattheus and Samuel Deduno were selected to the 40-man roster along with shortstops Chris Nelson and Hector Gomez and second baseman-center fielder Eric Young Jr.

Putting the players on the roster means they can't be taken in the Rule 5 draft Dec. 11 at the winter meetings in Las Vegas. The moves put the Rockies at the limit, meaning they would have to release someone to participate in the Rule 5 draft.

Lindsay, an Australia native who turns 24 in January, missed the 2007 season after right shoulder surgery. He has thrown only 2221/3 innings in four professional seasons but has been throwing 91-94 mph and hitting 98 mph in the Arizona Fall League.

Lindsay worked 712/3 innings this year at high Single-A Modesto and low Single-A Asheville. At Modesto, he broke his right hand in a fight while trying to assist a member of his host family, and for his safety, the Rockies moved Lindsay to Asheville when he was able to return.

Mattheus, 25, spent his first four pro seasons as a starter. He returned to Double-A Tulsa this year and pitched in relief, going 2-5 with a 3.28 ERA and 17 saves, which ranked fourth in the Texas League.

Young, 23, played second base at Tulsa, where he hit .290 with three homers, 33 RBI and 46 stolen bases in 105 games. He primarily played center field in the fall league, which he led with a .430 average.

Young and Nelson suffered broken bones in their hands this season. But unlike Young, Nelson, who was a nonroster invitee to spring training this year, had a disappointing season, hitting .237 with three homers and 42 RBI.

But in the fall league, Nelson, 23, played second base, which might be his ultimate position in the majors. He hit .321 with six homers and 17 RBI in 28 games.

Gomez, 20, considered the Rockies' best shortstop prospect, batted three times in Modesto's first game, fouled a ball off his left shin and suffered a stress fracture. While coming back, Gomez injured his right elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery in July.

Deduno, 25, pitched at Tulsa in 2007 but missed the 2008 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April.

Bellorin, 26, hit .293 with five homers and 65 RBI in 87 games with Colorado Springs and went 1-for-3 in three September games with the Rockies.

Comments

  • November 20, 2008

    5:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    RDenver writes:

    Can't wait until Spring Training!

  • November 20, 2008

    9:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    CSUGrad69 writes:

    Keep the news on the Rockies flowing. I will be in Tucson for all of Spring training. I hope the Rockies will train in Tucson forever! Warm in the Sun!