Rockies Place C Ramon Hernandez on 15-Day DL, Select Contract of C Wil Nieves to Major League Roster

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has placed catcher Ramon Hernandez on the 15-day disabled list with a left hand strain. To replace Hernandez on the active roster, the Rockies have selected the contract of catcher Wil Nieves to the Major League roster from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Additionally, the Rockies have transferred infielder Hector Gomez (groin strain) from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Nieves (#41) will be in uniform and available in tonight’s game at Cincinnati.
 
Hernandez, 36, is batting .215 (20-for-93) with 5 doubles, 4 home runs and 15 RBI in 27 games for the Rockies to begin the season. The veteran backstop is a .265 (1,315-for-4,966) career hitter with 255 doubles, 165 home runs, 738 RBI and 568 runs scored in 1,484 career Major League games with Colorado (2012), Cincinnati (2009-11), Baltimore (2006-08), San Diego (2004-05) and Oakland (1999-2003). Hernandez’s 165 home runs are the most among all active Major League catchers.
 
Nieves, 34, will be looking to make the Rockies his fifth Major League team, joining San Diego (2002), New York Yankees (2005-07), Washington (2008-10) and Milwaukee (2011). Nieves is a career .221 hitter (166-for-751) with 32 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs and 73 RBI in 282 Major League games. The  San Juan, Puerto Rico native began the 2012 season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, batting .299 (26-for-87) with 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 14 RBI and 14 runs scored in 28 games.