Rangers reinstate Hamilton, Cruz

The Texas Rangers announced the following roster moves prior to tonight’s series and homestand opener against the Chicago White Sox:

• Reinstated outfielder Josh Hamilton (#32) from the 15-day disabled list.
• Reinstated outfielder Nelson Cruz (#17) from the 15-day disabled list.
• Recalled right-handed pitcher Yoshinori Tateyama (#22) from Triple-A Round Rock.
• Optioned infielder Chris Davis to Triple-A Round Rock.
• Optioned right-handed pitcher Cody Eppley to Triple-A Round Rock.
• Optioned catcher Taylor Teagarden to Triple-A Round Rock.

 

Hamilton was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 13 with a small non-displaced fracture of his right humerus (the long bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow). He suffered the injury on April 12 at Detroit while attempting to score on a foul pop-out in the first inning of that game. Hamilton has batted .333 with no homers and 7 RBI in 11 games for Texas this season, and enters

tonight with an active 8-game hit streak. He played 5 total games on rehabilitation assignments with Frisco (AA) and Round Rock (AAA) from Wednesday through yesterday, all as the designated hitter, going 4-for-18 (.222) with 2 homers, a double, 6 RBI, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, and 5 runs scored. He reached safely via hit or walk in all 5 contests, going 0-for-4 with an intentional walk yesterday for Round Rock vs. Colorado Springs.

Cruz was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 7, retroactive to May 4, with a strained right quadriceps muscle. He left the game due to the injury in the 7th inning on May 3 at Seattle, which was his last contest with Texas. Cruz has batted .219 with 7 home runs and 18 RBI in 30 games for the Rangers this season. He played 6 total games on rehab assignments with Frisco (AA) and Round Rock (AAA), batting a combined .318 (7-22) with 3 home runs, a double, 5 RBI, 3 walks, one strikeout, and 4 runs scored. He had 2 games as the designated hitter, with the last 4 as the right-fielder. Cruz hit safely in 5 of 6 rehab games and homered in his final 3 contests (all with Round Rock). He was 1-for-3 with a solo homer and 2 walks in his final contest yesterday for the Express.

Tateyama, 35, will be looking to make his major league debut. He signed with Texas over the offseason after pitching for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Japanese Pacific League for 11 seasons from 1999-2010. Tateyama has spent the entire season with Round Rock (AAA), going 1-0 with one save and a 2.14 ERA (5 ER/21.0 IP) in 14 relief appearances for the Express in his only action in the U.S. to date. Pacific Coast League opponents batted just .214 (17-79) off Tateyama with 4 walks, 26 strikeouts, and one home run. Opposing right-handed batters were just 8-for-43 (.186). He last pitched on Saturday vs. Colorado Springs, tossing a perfect 8th inning with 2 strikeouts.

Tateyama would become just the fourth native of Japan to ever appear in the majors with Texas, the others being right-handed pitchers Hideki Irabu (2002), Akinori Otsuka (2006-07), and Kazuo Fukumori (2008).

Davis batted .250 (12-48) with 3 home runs and 4 RBI in 20 games with Texas after being recalled on April 13. He began the year at Triple-A.

Teagarden played one game with the club after his recall on Wednesday, appearing as a defensive replacement on Friday at Philadelphia. He has gone 0-for-4 in 3 games/one start over two stints with the Rangers in 2011. He has spent the rest of the year at Triple-A.

Eppley had his contract purchased on April 23 and made 10 appearances for Texas in his first major league stint. He allowed 8 runs in 9.0 innings over those 10 outings, posting a 1-1 record. He began the year with Round Rock.

With these moves, the Rangers still have a full 40-man roster.