NewsRockies add five to 40-man roster
Players protected from Rule 5 Draft in DecemberBy Steve Gilbert / MLB.com
11/20/09 7:37 PM EST
The Rockies on Friday added five players to their 40-man roster, which protects them from being selected in next month's Rule 5 Draft.Right-handers Alberto Alburquerque, Edgmer Escalona, Juan Nicasio and Chaz Roe along with catcher Michael McKenry were added, putting the Rockies' roster at 38.
Alburquerque was acquired by the Rockies in the July 2 trade that sent infielder Jeff Baker to the Cubs. The 23-year-old was 1-3 with a 3.76 ERA in 23 games for Double-A Tulsa following the trade, his first action above the Class A level in his career. The Cubs originally signed Alburquerque as a non-drafted free agent in 2003.
Escalona split the 2009 season between Class A Modesto and Tulsa. With Modesto he was 2-0 with a 2.48 ERA in 28 appearances before being promoted June 20. With the Drillers he went 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA and four saves in 31 appearances. Combined between the two stops, the 23-year-old averaged 8.57 strikeouts per nine innings.
Nicasio spent his first full professional season in 2009 with Class A Asheville, where he led the South Atlantic League with a 2.41 ERA while going 9-3. The 23-year-old had a six-game winning streak over an eight-start span from July 3-Aug. 13. He fanned five or more hitters in 15 of his 18 starts.
Prior to last year, Nicasio spent the 2007 season at the rookie-league level and the 2008 campaign at short-season Class A baseball.
Roe went 7-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 20 starts for Tulsa last season, striking out 77 in 117 innings of work. The 20 starts were the most he had made since 2007 when he started 29 for Modesto. In five professional seasons, the 23-year-old is 33-25 with a 4.05 ERA in 99 starts.
McKenry was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training in 2008 and 2009. The 24-year-old spent last year with Tulsa where he hit .279 with 25 doubles, 12 homers and 50 RBIs in 358 at-bats. McKenry's OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .831 marked the third straight year he had an OPS over .800.
Prior to last season, McKenry was ranked by Baseball America as the Rockies best defensive catcher and the system's ninth-best prospect overall.
Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
