Nationals select contract of Tom Milone; reinstate Ivan Rodriguez from disabled list, transfer Adam LaRoche to 60-day DL

The Washington Nationals today selected left-handed pitcher Tom Milone from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Additionally, the Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the 15-day disabled list and transferred first baseman Adam LaRoche to the 60-day DL. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Milone went 12-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 24 starts this season with Syracuse. With an International League-best 155 strikeouts and just 16 walks in 148.1 innings pitched, his 9.69/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio leads all qualifying minor league pitchers in 2011. An International League All-Star this season, the 24-year-old Milone ranks among IL leaders for wins (tied for second) and ERA (sixth). The Nationals' minor league Pitcher of the Year in 2010, Milone's 36 wins over the last three seasons (2009-11) are tied for third-most among all minor league pitchers. Milone is 37-22 with a 3.10 ERA in 91 games/86 starts during his four-year career. Entering this season, he was rated the No. 16 prospect in the Nationals system by Baseball America. Rodriguez missed the last 47 games after being placed on the DL on July 8, retroactive to July 7, with a right oblique strain. The 39-year-old is batting .214 with seven doubles, two home runs, 19 RBIs and 13 runs scored in 39 games this season with Washington. In four games during his rehab assignment, Rodriguez hit .250 (3-for-12) with a double, one home run, one RBI and three runs scored with Potomac of the Single-A Carolina League and Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League.