Cole Kimball added to Arizona Fall League roster

The Nationals have confirmed that right-handed power reliever Cole Kimball has been added to their Arizona Fall League affiliate, the Salt River Rafters, which begins play October 9. Kimball appears on the active roster of the Rafters here. Kimball has fully recovered from right rotator cuff surgery, which ended his season in July 2011. This will be Kimball's second tour in the Arizona Fall League, making the splash there in 2010. He has since recovered from shoulder surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2012 major league season. Kimball pitched in just six games, four of them starts, this summer in the Nationals' minor league system. Reports out of Florida said he was pitching very well again, and Arizona will be an excellent test for Kimball as he looks to return to the form that earned him a major league promotion in 2011. In 12 appearances with the Nationals in 2011, Kimball compiled a 1-0 record with a 1.93 ERA in 14 innings, striking out 11 batters but walking 11. During a three year span from 2009 to 2011, he struck out 10.5 batters per nine innings. With the outstanding pitching of Christian Garcia for the Nationals in September, he is currently not listed on the Arizona Fall League roster. No word on if he will be excluded from Arizona completely but, judging from his success with the Nationals, Garcia might be a consideration for a playoff roster spot. With the Kimball addition, here are the players the Nationals are sending to the Arizona Fall League with workouts starting October 2: Pitchers -- Aaron Barrett, Paul Demny, Kimball, Ryan Perry Infielders -- Jason Martinson (taxi squad), Anthony Rendon, Matt Skole Outfielder -- Brian Goodwin