Rowdy Tellez Joins the Rangers
The experienced first baseman, Rowdy Tellez, participated in a workout with the Texas Rangers this Thursday, anticipating his incorporation into the team before the first game after the All-Star break.
Tellez signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on July 5, a week after being released by Seattle. He had been designated for assignment after batting .208 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in 62 games with the Mariners.
The Rangers (48-49) will begin a three-game home series on Friday night against Detroit (59-38), which has the best record in the majors despite a four-game losing streak.
Texas has one spot available on its 26-player active roster and another on its 40-player roster.
Texas first baseman Jake Burger (left quadriceps injury) was placed on the 10-day injured list for the second time this season on Wednesday. That move was retroactive to Sunday, after having played just 10 games since missing 10 games during his previous stint on the injured list, from June 21 to July 2, due to a left oblique strain.
There was no corresponding move by the Rangers when they placed Burger on the injured list. They did make two moves on Thursday, when infielder Justin Foscue was called up from Triple-A Round Rock and infielder/outfielder Michael Helman was sent to the minor league team.
Tellez, 30 years old, has a .232 average with 116 home runs and 346 RBIs with four teams since his debut in the Major Leagues with Toronto in 2018. He has played for Milwaukee and Pittsburgh before signing with the Mariners as a free agent in February.
Texas acquired Burger in a trade from Miami in December. After hitting .190 with three home runs and a team-high 32 strikeouts in his first 30 games, the Rangers briefly sent him to Triple-A Round Rock. In 45 games since returning to the majors, he hit .250 with eight home runs and 23 RBIs. He is currently batting .228 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs in 75 games.
