The Texas Rangers welcomed back Mitch Garver, activating the designated hitter/catcher from the COVID-19 IL, where he has been since June 10.
Garver, who went 2-for-4 in his one rehab appearance at Double-A Frisco on Sunday, is hitting .206 this season for the Rangers. He has seven home runs and 16 RBIs in 39 games for the Guardians, with 22 starts at DH and 14 at catcher.
Garver, 31, has 60 major league home runs and 170 RBIs over six seasons, the first five with the Minnesota Twins. He is a .249 hitter over 348 games.
The Rangers also activated infielder/outfielder Josh Smith, selected the contract of catcher Meibrys Viloria from Triple-A Round Rock, optioned catcher Sam Huff to Round Rock, returned outfielder Zach Reks to Round Rock, transferred outfielder Eli White to the 60-day IL and sent right-hander Glenn Otto (left shoulder sprain) on a rehab assignment.
Viloria, 25, is set for his Rangers debut, having played for the Kansas City Royals from 2018-20. At Round Rock this season, he was batting .344 with an .471 on-base percentage, three home runs and 21 RBIs over 38 games.
Otto was a fifth-round choice of the New York Yankees in 2017. The 26-year-old right-hander, scheduled to start Tuesday night for Round Rock at Oklahoma City, was sent to the IL on June 4. He is 4-2 for the Rangers this season, with a 4.24 ERA in eight starts.
–Field Level Media