Yorvit Torrealba and Chris Volstad selected to roster

SCOTTSDALE -- The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has selected the contracts of catcher Yorvit Torrealba and right-handed pitcher Chris Volstad. Both Torrealba and Volstad were signed to Minor League deals with invites to Major League Spring Training during the offseason. To make room on the 40-man roster for each player, the Rockies have designated right-handed pitcher Will Harris and catcher Ramon Hernandez for assignment. Additionally, the club has optioned outfielder Tyler Colvin to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Torrealba, 34, is making his return to the Rockies organization where he previously played for four seasons (2006-09). Torrealba is a veteran of 12 Major League seasons, having played for seven teams, including San Francisco (2001-05), Seattle (2005), Colorado, San Diego (2010), Texas (2011-12), Toronto (2012) and Milwaukee (2012). In 64 games with three teams in 2012, Torrealba hit .227 (44-for-194) with 8 doubles, 4 home runs and 14 RBI. The Venezuela native is a career .257 hitter (694-for-2696) with 154 doubles, 12 triples, 56 home runs and 323 RBI in 846 games. Torrealba hit .258 (276-for-1068) with 66 doubles, 23 home runs and 152 RBI in 312 games with Colorado in his first stint with the club from 2006-09.

Volstad, 26, joins his third Major League organization in Colorado, having already pitched in 124 career games/123 starts with Florida (2008-11) and the Chicago Cubs (2012). The 6-foot-8 right-hander is 35-51 with a 4.87 ERA (695.1 ip, 376 er), 247 walks and 439 strikeouts in his Major League career. Volstad spent 2012 with the Cubs, going 3-12 with a 6.31 ERA (111.1 ip, 78 er) in 21 starts. The Palm Beach Gardens, FL native owns a 63.8-percent ground ball percentage in his Major League career.

Harris, 28, made his Major League debut last season with Colorado and went 1-1 with an 8.15 ERA (17.2 ip, 16 er) in 20 games. Prior to joining the Major League club, Harris split his 2012 season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs, going 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA (52.0 ip, 12 er), 13 walks and 66 strikeouts in 44 games. Harris was originally drafted by Colorado in the ninth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Louisiana State University.

Hernandez, 36, hit .217 (40-for-184) with 10 doubles, 5 home runs and 28 RBI in 52 games with Colorado in 2012. The veteran is a career .264 (133-for-5057) Major League hitter with 260 doubles, 8 triples, 166 home runs and 751 RBI in 1,509 career games with Colorado (2012), Cincinnati (2009-2011), Baltimore (2006-08), San Diego (2004-05) and Oakland (1999-2003).

Colvin, 27, spent the entire season with Colorado in 2012 and batted .290 (122-for-420) with 27 doubles, 10 triples, 18 home runs and 72 RBI in 136 games. Colvin was acquired by Colorado along with DJ LeMahieu prior to the 2012 season from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Ian Stewart and Casey Weathers. In his four-year Major League career (Chicago 2009-11), Colvin owns a .247 (247-for-1001) average with 53 doubles, 18 triples, 44 home runs and 150 RBI.

The Rockies have a full 40-man roster.