Moises Sierra was in chilly Rochester, New York, about three weeks ago when he was approached by Billy Gardner, Jr., his manager with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.
A veteran outfielder from the Dominican, Sierra was told he was headed to Nationals Park to join the big league team in Washington after regular left fielder Adam Eaton went on the disabled list.
“I was very excited with the opportunity. I was a little surprised,” Sierra, 29, said via translator Octavio Martinez.
He’s not the only one. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and his staff have had to reach down into the minors repeatedly this season, thanks to a handful of injuries that have decimated the Nationals’ starting lineup.