Following the acquisition of second baseman Mark Ellis on Thursday, the Colorado Rockies are making roster moves shortly before Friday's game with the Kansas City Royals. Ellis will start on Friday night for the Rockies, while Chris Nelson and Eric Young Jr. have been sent back to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Reliever Edgmer Escalona will also make his way up to the big leagues as part of these roster moves.
Nelson started off well when he was recalled at the end of May, and by the middle of June he hit his first two home runs in back-to-back games. But lately he's slumped and piled up the strikeouts. He hit .225/.250/.388 with 14 strikeouts in 84 plate appearances. He will play second base every day in the Springs.
Young Jr. started his season out in the end of May and had at least one hit in six of his first seven games (five straight to start), but then he moved to a reserve role, hitting .229/.255/.229. He will go back to the Springs and play the outfield.
Edgmer Escalona will make his first non-September call-up with the Rockies after putting up a 3.42 ERA in 26.1 innings at the Springs. In 2010, Escalona had a 1.50 ERA in five September appearances. He walked four and struck out two.
Saturday starter Jhoulys Chacin has been moved to Tuesday to recover from forearm tightness. Instead, Greg Reynolds is expected to be called up for that start.