Rockies select contract of RHP Will Harris to Major League Roster

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Will Harris to the Major League roster from Triple-A Colorado Springs. The Rockies have also placed right-handed pitcher Edgmer Escalona on the 15-day disabled list with Olecranon Bursa inflammation in his right arm. The Rockies have also transferred Todd Helton from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Harris (#48) will be in uniform and available for today’s Rockies at Giants game (2:05 p.m. MDT) at AT&T Park.

Harris, 27, will be looking to make his Major League debut with his first appearance. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has split the season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs, combining to go 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA (52.0 ip, 12 er), 13 walks and 66 strikeouts in 44 games. He is 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA (17.2 ip, 2 er), 1 walk and 20 strikeouts in 13 games with the Triple-A Sky Sox. Harris was originally selected by Colorado in the ninth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Louisiana State University by Colorado. He pitched in just one game from 2009-10 due to injury.

Escalona, 25, was recalled from Triple-A last Saturday and pitched in two games (2.0 ip, 6 h, 5 runs). Overall in 2012, Escalona has nine appearances in the Major Leagues with Colorado, going 0-1 with an 11.88 ERA (8.1 ip, 11 er). He has spent the remainder of the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, going 3-2 with a 3.05 ERA (38.1 ip, 13 er), 16 walks and 38 strikeouts in 30 games. Escalona has pitched in the Major Leagues with Colorado in each of the last three seasons, since 2010, and has a career mark of 0-1 with a 3.83 ERA (40.0 ip, 17 er), 15 walks and 24 strikeouts in 28 games.

Helton, 38, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a torn labrum in his right hip on Monday. Helton will miss the remainder of the 2012 season. In 69 games this season, the veteran hit .238 (57-for-240) with 16 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs and 37 RBI. Helton is a career .320 Major League hitter (2,420-for-7,565) in his 16 seasons, all with Colorado. He is the Rockies all-time leader in the following categories: hits (2,420), runs (1,360), doubles (570), home runs (354), RBI (1,345), walks (1,295) and games (2,133).

The Rockies have a full 40-man roster.