Robles returns, Ballou released, Soto still on DL

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

July 13, 2017, 11:42am

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From July 3 to July 8, Nationals outfielder prospect Juan Soto played five rehab games for the Gulf Coast Nationals as he recovers from an ankle injury. He has been out of the low Single-A Hagerstown lineup since May 2.

A club source told me the 18-year-old's reinstatement to the Suns is not imminent and he remains on the disabled list. Soto is ranked as the No. 95 prospect in Baseball America and is slashing .323/.385/.850.

Double-A Harrisburg announced the Nationals have released outfielder Isaac Ballou.

The Senators announced that infielder Mario Lisson and right-hander Kyle McGowin have been placed on the disabled list.

Further, Harrisburg announced that right-hander Wirkin Estevez, outfielder Zach Collier and left-hander Braulio Lara have all been activated off the disabled list. Also, infielder Dan Gamache was promoted from high Single-A Potomac.

Ballou slashed .255/.335/.397 over parts of three seasons in Harrisburg. Gamache hit .335 for the Altoona Curve in 2015.

The 27-year-old Ballou was a MiLB.com organizational All-Star in 2015 and arrived with the Nats as a 15th-round selection in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.

In his last 10 starts, Estevez went 5-1 with a 3.16 ERA. The 25-year-old's last game was July 2. He is 6-3 with a 3.75 ERA in 15 starts.

Another pitcher who is healthy and has pitched well for Double-A Harrisburg is 25-year-old right-hander Phillips Valdez. He is 0-1 with a 1.35 ERA, including 18 strikeouts in 20 innings.

Robles Getty Images 0713.jpg *High Single-A Potomac has reinstated outfielder Victor Robles, who played in the Futures Game.

Catcher Matt Reistetter has been placed on the disabled list and 21-year-old Jakson Reetz, a 2014 third-round draft pick, is now with the P-Nats.