RANGERS PLACE LHP MATT HARRISON ON THE 15-DAY DISABLED LIST;
RECALL RHP MILES MIKOLAS FROM TRIPLE-A ROUND ROCK
INF Donnie Murphy and LHP Joe Saunders to begin injury rehab assignments with Round Rock tomorrow
Houston, Texas — The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has placed left-handed pitcher Matt Harrison on the 15-day disabled list with lower back inflammation. The team has also recalled right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas (pronounced MIY-koh-lahs) from Triple-A Round Rock. Mikolas (#36) will be in uniform and seeking to make his Texas debut in tonight’s series finale in Houston.
Harrison left his start last night in Houston in the second inning due to the back stiffness, and was examined in Dallas today by back specialist Dr. Drew Dossett. He will have an injection on Friday in an attempt to alleviate the symptoms before considering other options.
Harrison has gone 1-1 with a 5.16 ERA (8 ER/17.1 IP) in 4 games/starts for Texas this season. He opened the season on the disabled list as he continued to rehab from two surgeries for a herniated disk in his lower back performed by Dossett in April 2013.
Mikolas, 25, has spent the year with Round Rock, posting no record with a 3.38 ERA (3 ER/8.0 IP) in 8 relief appearances while allowing no walks with 5 strikeouts. He began the year on the disabled list and was activated on April 19. He retired both batters faced in his most recent outing last night at Memphis, throwing 8 pitches. Pacific Coast League opponents have batted .273 (9-33) with just 3 extra-base hits, all doubles. He appeared in one game for the Rangers this spring (1 ER/1.0 IP) and was optioned to minor league camp on March 17.
Mikolas was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for first baseman Chris McGuiness on December 30, 2013. He had been traded from San Diego to Pittsburgh on November 25. Mikolas appeared for the Padres in both 2012 and 2013, and has a 2-1 record with a 3.44 ERA (13 ER/34.0 IP) over 27 relief appearances in his major league career over the past two seasons.
After today’s moves, the Rangers still have a full 40-man roster.
REHAB UPDATES: Infielder Donnie Murphy and left-handed pitcher Joe Saunders are scheduled to begin injury rehabilitation assignments with Round Rock in tomorrow night’s series opener at Iowa. It will be the first rehab game for Murphy, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 8 with a neck strain after leaving the previous night’s contest. Saunders is scheduled to start in what will be his 3rd rehab outing, as he has gone 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA (6 ER/9.1 IP) in 2 games/starts with Double-A Frisco, last on Saturday vs. Corpus Christi (5.1 IP, 4 R-ER, 84 pitches). He has been on the disabled list since April 5 with a stress fracture in his left ankle.
– RANGERS –
