WASHINGTON -- The Nationals promoted right-hander Erick Fedde to the Majors to start Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Padres at Nationals Park and designated right-hander Carlos Torres for assignment to clear room on the roster.
When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster, and 25-man roster if he was on that as well. Within seven days of the transaction (it was previously 10 days), the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.
Fedde, the club's top pitching prospect -- and the No. 4 overall prospect in the organization as rated by MLB Pipeline -- joins the team to make his first Major League start of the season. He owns a 4.35 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A Syracuse with 42 strikeouts and 13 walks in 41 1/3 innings.
This will be his fourth career Major League start after he scuffled through a brief stint in the Majors a year ago. Fedde made three starts in 2017, posting a 9.39 ERA, but his velocity dipped and his command was off before the team eventually shut him down in September.
He returned to Spring Training this year healthy and has pitched much more effectively.
"His stuff is electric," manager Dave Martinez said. "He's got a two-seamer, a four-seam, good changeup and good curveball."
Martinez said the Nats are hopeful Torres will clear waivers and accept an assignment to Triple-A to remain in the organization. He appeared in 10 games for the Nats and gave up seven runs in 9 2/3 innings.
"It was tough," Martinez said of the decision with Torres. "These are the days when being a manager stinks."