C Andrew Knizner designated for assignment to make room for Mahle on 40-man roster
Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced the following roster moves prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field:
- Right-handed pitcher Tyler Mahle activated from 60-day Injured List (right elbow surgery rehab).
- Left-handed pitcher Walter Pennington optioned to Round Rock (AAA).
- Catcher Andrew Knizner designated for assignment.
Mahle, 29, is expected to make his Texas debut in a start for the Rangers this evening, which will be his first Major league outing since a start for the Minnesota Twins on April 27, 2023 vs. Kansas City. The right-hander underwent ‘Tommy John’ ligament replacement surgery performed on his right elbow by Dr. Keith Meister on May 22, 2023, and has combined to post no record, a 2.50 ERA (5 ER/18.0 IP), and 18 strikeouts/4 walks across 6 appearances/starts on an injury rehabilitation assignment with Round Rock (AAA), Frisco (AA), and the Arizona Complex League Rangers (Rk.).
He has struck out 18 of 66 (27.3%) batters faced while holding opponents to a .177/.227/.258/.485 (11-62) slash line across his 6 rehab starts, last pitching in Round Rock’s 7-4 loss to the visiting Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston affiliate) on Wednesday at Dell Diamond (ND, 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, 74 pitches/48 strikes).
A veteran of seven big league campaigns with Cincinnati (2017-22) and Minnesota (2022-23), Mahle is in the first season of a two-year Major League contract signed with the Rangers on December 14, 2023. The Newport Beach, Calif. native has compiled a lifetime 33-41 record, 4.30 ERA (304 ER/635.2 IP), and 677 strikeouts (9.6 SO/9) over 123 appearances/122 starts in the Majors since he was selected by the Reds in the 7th round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Westminster (Calif.) High School.
The 26-year-old Pennington made his Texas debut in a relief appearance on Sunday vs. Boston (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R-ER, 3 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR, 33 pitches/17 strikes), surrendering a three-run home run to Wilyer Abreu in the 6th inning. He was acquired by the Rangers from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen on July 29.
The southpaw has spent the balance of the campaign pitching at the Triple-A level of the Kansas City (Omaha) and Texas (Round Rock) farm systems, combining to go 6-3, 2.20 ERA (15 ER/61.1 IP) with 81 strikeouts over 38 appearances/2 starts. Pennington, a Broomfield, Col. native, was originally signed by the Royals as a non-drafted free agent on August, 24, 2020 following a four-year collegiate playing career at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Col.
Knizner, 29, was a member of the Rangers’ Opening Day roster this season and batted .167 (15-90) with one home run and 9 RBI over 35 games with Texas before he was optioned to Round Rock on July 29. The six-year MLB veteran has gone 2-for-19 (.105) in 5 games/4 starts at designated hitter (3) and catcher (one) for the Express since being optioned.
Following today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with four players on the 60-day Injured List: Evan Carter, Carson Coleman, Jacob deGrom, Cole Winn.
