TEXAS RANGERS RECALL OF NOMAR MAZARA AND PURCHASE CONTRACT OF C BRETT NICHOLAS FROM ROUND ROCK
Robinson Chirinos and Shin-Soo Choo placed on disabled list;
Justin Ruggiano assigned outright to Round Rock
Anaheim, California–The Texas Rangers today announced the following roster moves:
–Placed catcher Robinson Chirinos on the 60-day disabled list with a fracture in his right forearm. Chirinos sustained the injury when he was hit by a Garrett Richards pitch in the 5th inning on Saturday. Chirinos is expected to be sidelined approximately 10-12 weeks.
–Placed outfielder Shin-Soo Choo on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Saturday, with a Grade 2 right calf strain. Choo injured his calf while conditioning in the outfield during batting practice on Saturday, resulting in his being scratched from the lineup. An MRI taken last night revealed the severity of the injury and it is expected that Choo will miss approximately 4-6 weeks.
–Recalled outfielder Nomar Mazara (#30) and purchased the contract of catcher Brett Nicholas (#63) from Triple-A Round Rock of the Pacific Coast League. Both players will be in uniform for this afternoon’s series finale in Anaheim, and both will be looking to make their major league debuts.
–Assigned outfielder Justin Ruggiano outright to Round Rock. Ruggiano had been designated for assignment by Texas on Friday. He is expected to join the Express on Tuesday.
Mazara is 6-for-12 with a homer and 4 RBI in Round Rock’s first 3 games of 2016. The left-handed batter hit .375 (12-32) with a homer and 8 RBI in 12 games with Texas in spring training, his first major league camp. This is Mazara’s 5th pro season and he was selected as Texas’ 2015 Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .296 in 131 games at Double-A Frisco and Round Rock.
Mazara, who is 20 years, 350 day old today, becomes the youngest player in the major leagues in 2016. He will be the 15th position player in Rangers history to make his major league debut before turning 21, the 18th overall. The last younger player was Rougned Odor on May 8, 2014 vs. Colorado (20.094).
Nicholas, 27, has started two of Round Rock’s first three games behind the plate, going 1-for-8. The left-handed hitter was a non-roster invitee in major league camp this spring and batted .389 (7-18) with 2 homers and 5 RBI in 14 games. He spent all of 2014 and 2015 at Round Rock and is in his 7th pro season, all with Texas.
Chirinos is 4-for-15 with a homer and 2 RBI in 5 games and Choo is 3-for-16 in 5 games. Both players returned to Texas today.
With today’s moves, the Rangers’ major league roster remains at 40 players.
