Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has selected the contract of outfielder Elier Hernandez (#38) (pronounced “el-EE-er”) from Triple-A Round Rock and optioned outfielder Steven Duggar to Round Rock.
Hernandez, 27, will be seeking his Major League debut. He has spent the entire 2022 season with Round Rock, slashing .295/.364/.546/.910 (61-207) with 11 home runs and 35 RBI in 62 games while seeing extended action in right field (28 starts) and at first base (22 starts). Hernandez ranks among Round Rock club leaders in triples (1st, 4), RBI (2nd), hits (2nd, 61), runs (2nd, 40), and home runs (T2nd). Over his last 44 games since the start of May, Hernandez has batted .331 (49-148) with 10 home runs and 28 RBI. His last game action came on Sunday vs. Albuquerque (0-for-4).
The Dominican Republic native spent his first eight professional seasons in the Kansas City organization after signing as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2011. He is in his second season with Texas after originally signing as a minor league free agent on Dec. 28, 2020. Hernandez elected free agency following the 2021 campaign before signing a one-year minor league contract with Texas on March 21.
Duggar has combined to bat .189 with 4 RBI over 20 games with San Francisco (12 games) and Texas (8 games) this season. He was acquired from the Giants on June 23 in a trade for outfielder Willie Calhoun and cash considerations, activated from the 60-day Injured List that day, and added to the active roster on June 26. Duggar has seen Major League action in each of the last five seasons with San Francisco (2018-22) and Texas (2022).
Following today’s transactions, the Rangers are at the 40-man limit on the Major League roster, along with three players (Mitch Garver, Jonathan Hernández, Eli White) on the 60-day Injured List.
