BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Willard Recalled by the Expos
The Montreal Expos recalled pinch-hitter Jerry Willard from triple-A Indianapolis.
Willard batted .278 with three homers and 17 RBIs for Indianapolis. To make room for Willard, infielder Bret Barberie was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained left wrist.
Willard, 32, signed a minor league contract with the Expos July 16 after refusing an outright assignment by the Atlanta Braves in late June.
Willard was stunned that the Braves wanted to send him to the minors after he batted .348 with two homers and seven RBIs. He batted .318 as a pinch-hitter.
“I was really shocked and disappointed that the Braves wanted to send me down,” Willard said. “They thought I was going to be a Good Samaritan and go down. I chose the Expos over four other teams because they gave me an opportunity to help on the field, instead of just pinch-hitting. When you’re a pinch-hitter, you’re just a piece of meat and not well-respected.”
The Cincinnati Reds activated first baseman Hal Morris from the 15-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Cesar Hernandez to double-A Chattanooga.
Morris had been on the disabled list since Aug. 5 because of a pulled left hamstring.
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