The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse and activated newly-acquired right-hander Brandon Kintzler on Wednesday. Right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde and left-handed pitcher Sammy Solis were optioned to Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
Cole, 25, joins the Nationals for his second Major League assignment of the season. In his previous call-up, Cole made one start, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA with 6.0 innings of one-run ball (six hits, four walks) at Philadelphia on May 6. Cole is 4-4 with a 5.66 ERA in 16 starts with Triple-A Syracuse this season.
Kintzler, 32, was acquired from the Minnesota Twins on Monday. In his seventh Major League season, Kintzler is a career 12-13 with a 3.24 ERA in 271 appearances (280.2 IP). He has saved 45 games for the Twins since June, 2016. A 2017 American League All-Star, Kintzler ranks third in the Major Leagues (2nd in the AL) with 28 saves this season, converting 28 of 32 save opportunities for Minnesota.
Originally a 40th-round selection of the San Diego Padres in the 2004 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Kintzler will make Washington his third Major League home (also Milwaukee).
Fedde, 24, made his Major League debut in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies. The former first-round draft selection (2014, No. 18 overall) tossed four innings and was charged with seven earned runs. Fedde is 4-4 with a 3.72 ERA in 27 Minor League games this season. Nationals' No. 2 prospect entering the season (per Baseball America) has made 11 Minor League starts this season, seven with Double-A Harrisburg and four with Triple-A Syracuse, and also pitched in relief for both clubs, making 16 total appearances out of the bullpen.
Solis, 28, appeared in two games in his most recent stint with the Major League club, allowing two earned runs in 1.2 innings of work. The left-handed reliever went 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in six games with the Chiefs after being optioned to Triple-A on July 9. He has appeared in 12 games at the Major League level this season, missing 65 games from April 19-July 1 with left elbow inflammation.