CHICAGO — As expected the Texas Rangers activated Josh Jung from the injured list on Tuesday, but it wasn’t as clean as just that.
After Nathan Eovaldi went only 4 2/3 innings on Monday and Gerson Garabito had to pitch the remainder of the game, the Rangers found themselves short when it came to length in the bullpen. So, Garabito’s reward for twice saving the bullpen by soaking up innings was a trip to Round Rock.
Here’s a look at what all happened Tuesday afternoon and the ramifications:
Josh Jung (neck spasms) was activated from the IL: It was perhaps a bit surprising that the Rangers optioned Ezequiel Duran to Triple-A Round Rock and instead kept Jonathan Ornelas as a backup infielder. Ornelas had been called up to replace Jung initially. The thinking: With a healthy infield and the need to get Josh Smith regular playing time, the backup infielder was going to be used as an emergency-only kind of option. If an infielder needs a day off, it just creates more opportunity for Smith to play. If a guy gets hurt, Ornelas will finish out the game. In the meantime, Duran can get regular at-bats in hopes of being more ready when the Rangers do need another infielder in a more significant backup role. In his current role, Duran simply wasn’t performing. He was 0 for 11 this season with four strikeouts and a ton of ground balls. This move fits the Rangers’ needs and Duran’s needs better at the moment.
Gerson Garabito optioned to Round Rock: Garabito gets on the Triple-A shuttle. The Rangers are going to need a long man regularly available. Garabito helped save the leverage arms in the bullpen from being used in a hopeless cause, but after throwing 3 1/3 innings and 51 pitches Monday, it meant he’d be unavailable as backup to Patrick Corbin on Tuesday and probably Wednesday as well. The Rangers can’t afford to overtax the leverage arms in their bullpen any more than they already are.
Caleb Boushley was selected from Round Rock: The right-hander, previously with Minnesota, pitched well in spring training and got serious consideration for the opening day roster, but he was on a minor league contract and it would have necessitated a move to make room for him on the 40-man roster. Boushley, 31, pitched five shutout innings for Round Rock last Thursday, is on full rest and is capable of piggybacking with a starter. But, to add him, it still required a 40-man roster move.
Cody Bradford won’t be back before Memorial Day: There has been no setback in Bradford’s recovery from an elbow sprain. But the only way to get Boushley on the 40-man roster without placing somebody on waivers was to move a player from the regular injured list to the 60-day IL. It was going to be dicey whether Bradford would be ready within the 60-day window, but the need to get Boushley on the roster now left no more wiggle room. By adding Boushley to the 40-man roster, the Rangers have another optionable pitcher in their “pool” of long relievers, which feels like it is going to be a necessity in the short-term. Boushley has two minor league options remaining.
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