Nationals select contract of left-hander Tim Collins

By Pete Kerzel

Nationals

May 21, 2018, 12:07pm

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The Washington Nationals selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Tim Collins from Triple-A Syracuse and transferred infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick to the 60-day disabled list. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Collins, 28, joins the Nationals after appearing in 17 games with Triple-A Syracuse where he recorded 10.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (20 SO/17.1 IP) and held opposing batters to a .190 batting average (11-for-58). He went 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA in those 17 appearances for the Chiefs. Collins allowed just one of 11 inherited runners to score and tossed more than one inning in five of the 17 outings. He did not allow a home run, surrendering just four extra-base hits (3 2B, 3B) along the way.

A veteran of four Major League seasons, Collins appeared in 228 games with the Kansas City Royals from 2011 to 2014. He went 12-17 with a 3.54 ERA and struck out 9.4 batters per 9.0 innings across those four seasons. Collins tallied 220 strikeouts in four seasons with the Royals, 10th-most among relievers in Royals history and the most of any left-handed reliever. He appeared in four games during the 2014 Postseason, including three in the World Series.

Collins signed a Minor League contract with the Nationals in 2017 after undergoing "Tommy John" ligament replacement surgeries in 2015 and 2016.

Kendrick, 34, hit .303 with 14 doubles, four homers, 12 RBI and 17 runs scored in 40 games for the Nationals.