MLB notebook: Rangers activate Pence from IL

[July 17, 2019]  The Texas Rangers activated slugger Hunter Pence from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and put him in the lineup to face the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.

Pence had been sidelined for a month due to a strained right groin. He missed 23 games. The 36-year-old veteran was having an excellent season before the injury, batting .294 with 15 homers and 48 RBIs in 55 games. He earned his fourth career All-Star selection and his first since 2014, though he wasn't able to play in the game.

The Rangers also optioned outfielder Willie Calhoun to Triple-A Nashville, placed left-hander Jesse Biddle on the 10-day IL (retroactive to Monday) because of left shoulder fatigue and selected the contract of right-hander Taylor Guerrieri from Nashville.

--Ryan Brasier, who helped solidify the Boston Red Sox's bullpen last season, was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Brasier (2-3, 4.24 ERA) has been scored upon in three of his past four appearances, including giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits in two-thirds of an inning Monday night in Boston's 10-8 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Brasier, 31, has yielded 37 hits in 40 1/3 innings.
 

The Red Sox recalled rookie left-hander Darwinzon Hernandez from Pawtucket. The 22-year-old is considered the team's top pitching prospect but has exhibited control issues early in his career.

--St. Louis third baseman Matt Carpenter was placed on the 10-day injured list. Carpenter sustained a contusion after fouling a ball off the top of his right foot in the seventh inning of the Cardinals' 7-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.

Carpenter had been out since June 29 with a lower back strain before being activated on July 11. Batting .215 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs this season, Carpenter is the seventh Cardinals player currently on the injured list, joining notable regulars such as catcher Yadier Molina and outfielder Marcell Ozuna.

Rookie infielder Edmundo Sosa was recalled from Triple-A Memphis to take his place on the roster. Sosa, a 23-year-old right-handed hitter, was batting .252 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in 83 games for Memphis.

--The Minnesota Twins placed outfielder Byron Buxton on the seven-day concussion list as one in a series of transactions. Buxton was injured Saturday in Cleveland, where he made a head-first diving catch from center field against the Indians, slamming his face into the turf.
 
 Buxton, 25, is hitting .249 with nine home runs and a career-best 24 doubles in 75 games. He missed 13 games in June because of a right wrist contusion.

American League designated hitter Hunter Pence (24) of the Texas Rangers prior to the 2019 MLB All Star Game at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

 The Twins also activated outfielder Eddie Rosario (sprained left ankle) and first baseman C.J. Cron (right thumb inflammation) from the 10-day injured list, and they designated relief pitcher Mike Morin for assignment.
 
 --Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was recalled from his injury rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Charlotte and reinstated from the 10-day injured list.
 
 Castillo has been out since June 17 because of a strained left oblique. He appeared in five games with Double-A Birmingham and Charlotte on his rehab assignment, going 5-for-21 (.238) with one home run and five RBIs. Castillo was hitting .196 with five homers and 15 RBIs for the White Sox before getting hurt.
 
 Catcher Zack Collins was optioned back to Charlotte after Chicago's loss to the Kansas City Royals on Monday. The former first-round pick was 2-for-26 with 14 strikeouts in his debut stint with the White Sox.
 
 --The Atlanta Braves placed left-handed starter Max Fried on the 10-day injured list because of a blister on his left index finger.
 
 The Braves recalled right-hander Bryse Wilson from Triple-A Gwinnett to take his spot on the 25-man roster, and he started Tuesday night at Milwaukee.
 
 Fried, 25, began developing the blister during his start against the Brewers on Monday night, and gave up three hits while striking out five in five scoreless innings to earn the victory, as the Braves went on to win 4-2. Fried is 10-4 with a 4.08 ERA in 21 games (19 starts) this season.
 
 --Field Level Media

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