Washington Nationals Place Jesus Flores on DL, recall Jesus Colome from Triple-A

Here's the press release: 

NATIONALS SELECT JESUS COLOME & RECALL JOSH BARD FROM SYRACUSE

Washington places Jesus Flores on DL & designates Logan Kensing for assignment

              The Washington Nationals today selected right-handed pitcher Jesus Colome and recalled catcher Josh Bard from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League, placed catcher Jesus Flores on the 15-Day Disabled List (retroactive May 10) with a right shoulder contusion and designated right-handed pitcher Logan Kensing for assignment. Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

              Colome pitched in nine games with Syracuse, notching three saves and holding opponents to a .244 batting average. He recorded nine strikeouts against two walks in 10.1 innings at Triple-A. In 10 games during Spring Training, Colome went 2-0 with four saves and a 0.90 ERA (1 ER/ 10.0 IP). The 31-year-old was one of just three relievers to go “wire-to-wire” last year in Washington’s bullpen, joining right-handers Joel Hanrahan and Saul Rivera. Last season, he had a 2.25 ERA and held opponents to a .176 batting average in 31 appearances beginning June 30.

             Bard was a member of the Nationals’ Opening Day roster and appeared in seven games before he was optioned to Syracuse on April 20. The 31-year-old signed with Washington as a minor-league free agent, March 21. Over the last four seasons, beginning in 2006, Bard ranks favorably among baseball’s regular catchers with a .356 on-base percentage (8th) and .280 batting average (tied for 12th).

             Flores, 24, has missed the last four games after he was injured while playing defense on Saturday (May 9) at Arizona. He has batted .311 with three doubles, two triples, four home runs and 15 RBI in 26 games with the Nationals this season.

              Kensing, 26, went 0-1 with an 18.00 ERA in 6 relief appearances with the Nationals, after he was acquired from Florida in a trade on April 29.

None of this really is too shocking. 

Flores hasn't even sniffed the field since taking the fastball off his shoulder. That has to hurt. I would expect a fairly straight platoon with Bard and Nieves for the next 10 days.

Hard to imagine Colome being a welcome addition, but here he is. He had three saves in nine games with Syracuse, with nine Ks against two walks.

Good tidings, Logan Kensing, we hardly knew ye. If you get cut from the Nats bullpen, where do you go from there?

In other news, the Nats returned Rule 5 draftee Terrell Young to Cincinnati after he was activated from the DL.  Guess there wasn't a certain former-GM around to insist he be activated to the major league roster to uphold some handshake agreement he had with the player.