Rockies transactions for July 17

DENVER - The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has selected the contract of outfielder Andrew Brown from Triple-A Colorado Springs. The club has also recalled infielder DJ LeMahieu from Triple-A. In addition, the Rockies have placed infielders Jonathan Herrera (infection in left wrist) and infielder Chris Nelson (irregular heart beat) on the 15-day disabled list, both players placement on the DL is retroactive to July 16th. The Rockies have also transferred right-handed pitcher Juan Nicasio from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list following his left knee surgery yesterday. Both Brown (#12) and LeMahieu (#9) will be in uniform and available for tonight's Rockies vs. Pirates game at Coors Field (6:40 p.m. MDT).

Brown, 27, has spent the entire season at Triple-A Colorado Springs where he was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team. In 86 games this season, Brown is batting .317 (106-for-334) with 28 doubles, 4 triples, 20 home runs and 84 RBI. Brown's 84 RBI are the second-most in the Minor Leagues. The Dallas native made his Major League debut in 2011 with St. Louis, and hit .182 (4-for-22) with one double and 3 RBI in 11 games. Brown was acquired off waivers by Colorado on October 12, 2011, and then outrighted to the Minors after clearing waivers November 18, 2011. He was a non-roster invitee to Major League Spring Training. He was originally selected by St. Louis in the 18th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Nebraska.

LeMahieu, 23, will be making his second appearance on the Rockies active roster after spending 30 days with the Rockies from May 23-June 22. In 18 games with the Rockies this season, LeMahieu has hit .216 (8-for-37) with 1 double, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. LeMahieu has spent the remainder of his season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he has hit .314 (80-for-255) with 14 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 31 RBI and 33 runs scored in 61 games. The Rockies acquired LeMahieu along with Tyler Colvin from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Ian Stewart and Casey Weathers on December 8th, 2011. In 55 career Major League games with the Rockies and Cubs, LeMahieu has hit .237 (23-for-97) with 3 doubles, 6 RBI and 6 runs scored.

Herrera, 27, will be making his second trip to the disabled list this season, as he earlier spent 30 days on the DL with a strained right hamstring May 23-June 22. Herrera was a member of the Rockies Opening Day roster and has hit .246 (30-for-122) with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 6 RBI and 20 runs scored in 45 games. Herrera has appeared in the Major Leagues with Colorado in each of the last three seasons, as well as 2008. In his Major League career he has hit .255 (175-for-686) with 18 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, 44 RBI and 87 runs. He was originally signed by Colorado as a non-drafted free agent on April 6, 2002.

Nelson, 26, will also be making his second trip to the disabled list this season, as he spent 15 days on the DL with left wrist inflammation from May 16-31. He was a member of the Rockies Opening Day roster and has spent the remainder of 2012 in the Majors with Colorado. In 58 games this season he has batted .256 (43-for-168) with 9 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 23 RBI and 18 runs. Nelson has spent time in the Majors with Colorado in each of the last three seasons, and is a career .255 (95-for-373) hitter with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 9 home runs, 39 RBI and 45 runs in 138 games. He was originally drafted by Colorado in the first round (9th overall) of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of Redan (GA) High School.

Nicasio, 25, underwent arthroscopic surgery yesterday to remove loose bodies in his left knee, as well as have a micro fracture repaired on the under surface of the patella. Nicasio will miss the remainder of the 2012 season following yesterday's surgery. In 11 starts this season, Nicasio went 2-3 with a 5.28 ERA (58.0 ip, 34 er), 22 walks and 54 strikeouts. He is 6-7 with a 4.65 ERA (129.2 ip, 67 er) in 24 career Major League starts, all with Colorado since 2011. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Rockies on August 21, 2006 out of the Dominican Republic.