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Rangers Place Danny Jansen on IL, Call Up Elias Díaz
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- Rangers Place Danny Jansen on IL, Call Up Elias Díaz
(© Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)
The Texas Rangers are losing Danny Jansen for a bit, but Elias Díaz is going to get his first taste of the MLB life.
On Saturday, the Rangers announced that Jansen was going on the 10-day Injured List with a right forearm strain. The IL stint is retroactive to June 3.
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In an additional move, infielder Josh Smith was sent to Double-A Frisco on an injury rehabilitation assignment.
Jansen, 31, has missed the Rangers' last two games since Wednesday. In 41 games with the Rangers this season, including a team-high 36 games started at catcher, he is batting .171 (21-123) with three home runs, one stolen base, six doubles, and 12 RBIs.
Díaz Has Experience in MLB
According to Rangers Communications, Díaz, 35, is a 12-year MLB veteran, hit .227 (5-22) with two home runs, two stolen bases, five RBIs, and had an .852 OPS in 10 games with the Kansas City Royals this year while also appearing for the Royals' Triple-A Omaha affiliate.
He was designated for assignment on May 22 and elected free agency on Wednesday.
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In 12 MLB seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2015-19), Colorado Rockies (2020-24), San Diego Padres (2024-25), and the Royals (2026), the right-handed catcher has batted .246 with 73 home runs and 331 RBIs in 840 games.
He was a 2023 National League All-Star with the Rockies and earned 2023 All-Star Game MVP, hitting a game-winning two-run home run in the National League's 3-2 win in Seattle .
Díaz was one of the best National League catchers from 2021-25. He finished ranked third among all NL catchers with 65 caught stealing plays, trailing only J.T. Realmuto (88) and Will Smith (82). This year marks his 18th professional campaign since initially signing with the Pirates as an international free agent from Venezuela in 2009.
As for Smith, he is scheduled to bat leadoff as Frisco's designated hitter on Saturday night against Springfield at Riders Field.
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Texas now has 40 players on its major-league roster. Also, there are four players on the 60-day Injured List. They are right-handed pitcher Carter Baumler , and left-handed pitchers Cody Bradford , Robert Garcia, and Jordan Montgomery .
The Rangers hit the field again on Saturday night at Globe Life Field against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field. First pitch is 6:35 p.m. CDT. Then, the Rangers and Guardians will wrap up their three-game weekend series with a first-pitch of 1:35 p.m. CDT.
Texas comes into Saturday night's game in second place in the American League West Division.
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