DC Metro Sports - NATIONALS EXPECTED TO SELECT CONTRACT OF TOP RIGHT-HANDED PROSPECT COLLIN BALESTER

The Washington Nationals tonight announced they expect to select the contract of 22 year-old right-handed pitching prospect Collin Balester to start Tuesday’s contest at Florida . Balester is slated to have his contract selected from Columbus of the Triple-A International League to make his big league debut. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.

Balester entered the 2008 season rated by Baseball America as the Nationals’ No. 3 prospect, their top right-handed pitcher. Before the Nationals recent influx of top young talent, Balester was Washington ’s top-rated prospect—per Baseball America—entering the ‘07 campaign. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Balester was signed by Nationals Scouting Director Dana Brown, who was serving in the same capacity with the Expos at the time.

Balester earns the promotion after going 8-1 with a 3.90 ERA (24 ER/55.1 IP) in his last 10 International League starts. Balester—4-0 with a 2.82 ERA in four June assignments—is currently tied for third in the International League with nine wins despite being one of the IL’s younger pitchers. He has allowed two runs or less in nine of his 15 starts, and sports a strong 2.8/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (64 SO, 23 BB).

9-3 with a 4.00 ERA in 15 starts this season, Balester is 27-26 with a 3.99 ERA in four-plus minor league seasons. He represented the Nationals in the 2007 Futures Game at SBC Park in San Francisco .

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