RHP Josh Sborz placed on Injured List, RHP Glenn Otto designated for assignment
Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers announced the following roster moves prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field:
- Right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi activated from 15-day Injured List
- Right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy (#21) contract selected from Triple-A Round Rock
- Right-handed pitcher Josh Sborz placed on 15-day Injured List with a left hamstring strain
- Right-handed pitcher Glenn Otto designated for assignment
Eovaldi is scheduled to start Tuesday night’s game against the Astros, his first outing since July 18 vs. Tampa Bay. He was on the 15-day Injured List from July 27-September 4 with a right forearm strain. Eovaldi has an 11-3 record with a 2.69 ERA over 19 games/starts for Texas this season, ranking among American League leaders in complete games (T2nd, 2) and wins (T7th, 11). He was voted by players to the American League roster for the 2023 All-Star Game on July 11 in Seattle, the second selection of his career.
Kennedy returns for a second stint with the Rangers this season, the 38-year-old went 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA (8 ER/10.0 IP) over 11 relief outings with Texas during his first stint from Opening Day-May 10. He made the Rangers’ Opening Day roster as a non-roster invitee for a second straight season. Kennedy was re-signed to a minor league contact with Texas on June 20, and he has compiled a 1-0 record with a 3.51 ERA (10 ER/25.2 IP) and 3 saves over 22 relief appearances for Triple-A Round Rock since late June. Over his last 10 outings at Triple-A beginning August 1, Kennedy has 19 strikeouts spanning 14.0 innings. He last pitched on Sunday at Oklahoma City (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO, 26 pitches/17 strikes).
Sborz has a 5-7 record with a 5.80 ERA over 42 relief appearances with the Rangers this season. The first date he would be eligible to return is September 20.
Otto had no record and a 10.13 ERA over 6 relief appearances spanning two stints with the Rangers this season: June 30-July 22 and August 28-September 4. He has spent the balance of the year, both on option and injury rehabilitation assignment, with Triple-A Round Rock, posting a 1-1 record with a 3.38 ERA (11 ER/29.1 IP) over 10 games/6 starts. The Rangers have seven days to release or outright Otto to the minor leagues.
Following today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with three players (Jacob deGrom, Brett Martin, and Jake Odorizzi) on the 60-day Injured List.
