EXPOS RECALL RHP JON RAUCH
OPTION RHP ROY CORCORAN TO EDMONTON

MONTREAL – The Montreal Expos recalled right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch from AAA-Edmonton and optioned right-handed pitcher Roy Corcoran to Edmonton. Vice President and General Manager Omar Minaya made the announcement.

Rauch, 25, was acquired along with right-handed pitcher Gary Majewski from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for outfielder Carl Everett on July 18. Since making his big league debut last season, Rauch is 3-2 with a 6.51 ERA in 10 career games (eight starts), all with the White Sox.

Earlier this season, Rauch went 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA (6 ER/8.2 IP) in a pair of starts for the White Sox.  In three starts for the Edmonton Trappers since his acquisition, Rauch went 1-1 with 4.50 ERA. He also made 14 starts for Triple-A Charlotte this year, going 6-3 with a 3.11 ERA. 

Consistently rated by Baseball America as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, Rauch was ranked as the White Sox' top prospect entering the 2001 season.  A year later, he was ranked No. 2.  Rauch-who stands 6-foot-11 and is believed to be the tallest pitcher in big league history-was drafted by Chicago (AL) in the third-round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft out of Morehead (KY) State. 

Corcoran, 23, was called up to Montreal on July 23. In four appearances out of the Expos bullpen, he posted a 0-0 record and an 8.31 ERA (4 ER/4.1 IP) while allowing seven hits, five walks and striking out four. In 29 games out of the Edmonton bullpen this season, Corcoran was 4-1 with 5 saves and a 2.98 ERA. Corcoran started the 2003 season at A-Brevard County, making his way through AA-Harrisburg and Montreal before finishing the season at Edmonton. He posted a 1.23 ERA in a combined 49 games at the four levels.

Rauch will make his Expos debut tomorrow in Houston, making his first National League start as the Expos face the Astros at Minute Maid Park.

MONTREAL EXPOS - 6 August 2004