The Texas Rangers activated right-hander Garrett Richards from the injured list Thursday among a list of roster moves ahead of their series opener against the Los Angeles Angels.
Richards, who signed with Texas as a free agent in March, began the 2022 season on the IL with a blister on his right middle finger.
He pitched one inning for Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday during a rehab assignment. The Rangers said Richards, 33, would be available to make his team debut Thursday against his former team. He played his first eight seasons with the Angels (2011-18).
Richards spent much of his career as a starting pitcher but signed with the Rangers to take a bullpen role. In 11 seasons with the Angels, San Diego Padres (2019-20) and Boston Red Sox (2021), Richards has gone 54-49 with five saves, a 3.81 ERA and 817 strikeouts in 227 appearances (150 starts).
Also Thursday, Texas placed right-hander Spencer Howard on the 10-day IL with a cracked fingernail/blister — retroactive to Monday — and added righty Dennis Santana to the COVID-19 IL.
Howard allowed six earned runs, including four home runs, in 3.0 innings in his first start of the season, a no-decision Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Santana is 0-1 this season with a 2.70 ERA in three relief outings.
The Rangers also recalled right-hander Nick Snyder from Round Rock and outrighted infielder Sherten Apostel to the Triple-A club.
–Field Level Media