C Sam Huff optioned to Round Rock (AAA), OF Zach Reks returned to Round Rock; OF Eli White transferred to 60-day IL, RHP Glenn Otto sent on rehab assignment
Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced the following roster moves ahead of Tuesday night’s homestand opener against the Philadelphia Phillies:
- C/DH Mitch Garver activated from COVID-19 Related Injured List.
- INF/OF Josh Smith activated from 10-day Injured List.
- C Meibrys Viloria (#60 – pronounced MAY-breeze vill-OH-ree-ah) contract selected from Round Rock (AAA).
- C Sam Huff optioned to Round Rock (AAA).
- OF Zach Reks returned to Round Rock (AAA).
- OF Eli White transferred from 10-day to 60-day Injured List.
- RHP Glenn Otto sent to Round Rock (AAA) on injury rehabilitation assignment.
Garver was placed on the Injured List on June 10 and will be seeking his first action with the Rangers since June 8 at Cleveland. He played one game on injury rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Frisco, going 2-for-4 with a double, RBI, and run scored as the designated hitter for the RoughRiders’ game on Sunday vs. Midland. Garver has batted .206 with 7 home runs and 16 RBI over 39 games for Texas this season, making 22 starts at designated hitter and 14 at catcher.
Smith was placed on the Injured List on June 4 with a left shoulder sprain. He batted .417 (5-12) with a double, 2 walks, 3 hit by pitches, a stolen base, and one strikeout in 5 games for Texas after having his contract selected from Round Rock (AAA) on May 30. He has reached safely via hit/walk/hit by pitch in all 5 contests to begin his Major League career. Smith played 4 games on injury rehabilitation assignment with Round Rock, going 3-for-16 with a walk, RBI, and run scored, making 2 starts both as designated hitter and at third base.
Viloria, 25, will be seeking his Rangers debut. He saw Major League action with Kansas City for three consecutive seasons from 2018-20, with his last MLB game coming on September 5, 2020 vs. Chicago-AL. The left-handed batter has spent the entire season with Round Rock (AAA), batting .344/.471/.512/.983 (43-125) with 3 home runs, 12 doubles, 21 RBI, and 30 runs over 38 games for the Express. He has 27 walks against 32 strikeouts at the plate and has thrown out 9 of 40 (22.5%) attempted base stealers. Viloria would join pitcher Ernesto Frieri (2017) as the only players born in Colombia in Washington/Texas franchise history.
Huff has batted .282 with one home run and 5 RBI over 27 games spanning two stints with Texas this season: April 28-May 1 and May 10-June 20. He has made 17 starts at catcher (12), first base (3), and designated hitter (2).
Reks was added from Round Rock as a substitute player on June 11. He has batted .265 with a double and 3 RBI in 16 games over three stints with Texas this season: April 30-May 10, May 30-June 2, and June 11-20.
Otto is scheduled to start for Round Rock in tonight’s 7:05 p.m. CT game at Oklahoma City. He was placed on the Injured List on June 10, the day of his last scheduled start for the Rangers in Chicago. He has gone 4-2 with a 4.24 ERA over 8 games/starts for the Rangers this season since being recalled on April 22.
Following today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the Major League roster, along with two players (Jonathan Hernández and Eli White) on the 60-day Injured List.
