Nationals Select Contract Of Nieves, Option Schroder To Triple-A

The Washington Nationals today selected the contract of catcher Wil Nieves from the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, and optioned right-handed pitcher Chris Schroder to Columbus. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made these announcements.

Nieves, 29, batted .240 (6-25) with 2 RBI in 9 games with Columbus. He appeared in 16 Grapefruit League games with the Nationals during Spring Training, hitting .174 (4-23) with one RBI before he was re-assigned to minor league camp on March 23. Nieves was signed by the Nationals as a minor league free agent on January 11, 2008. He has batted .161 (23-143)with 11 RBI in 63 Major League games with the San Diego Padres (2002)and New York Yankees (2005-07). He has thrown out 10 of 43 (23%) runners attempting to steal during his four seasons in the Majors. Nieves will wear No. 53 with the Nationals.

Schroder, 29, was recalled by the Nationals on March 30, and went 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA (1 ER/2.2 IP) in 2 games. He began the season at Triple-A, but did not make an appearance with the Clippers before he was recalled.