Anaheim, California—The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has placed outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and designated hitter Prince Fielder on the 15-day disabled list.
Choo was placed on the disabled list due to inflammation in his lower back. He was examined by Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles today and received an injection for the inflammation. Dr. Watkins indicated that Choo has no disc issues in his back.
Fielder was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to July 19. He reported weakness in his left arm and discomfort in his neck on Monday and had an MRI on Tuesday. Fielder also was examined by Dr. Watkins today with the diagnosis being a herniation of the C4/C5 discs in his neck. Fielder will return to Texas and see Dr. Drew Dossett on Friday to determine the course of treatment.
To take their spots on the active roster, infielder Hanser Alberto and outfielder Delino DeShields have been recalled from Triple-A Round Rock of the Pacific Coast League. The two players will join the team on Wednesday night in Anaheim.
Choo has a .260 batting average with 7 home runs and 17 RBI in 33 games with Texas this season. He has missed 4 of the team's last 10 games due to lower back stiffness since leaving the game on July 5 at Boston with the injury. This will be Choo's third stint on the disabled list, the others from April 9-May 19 (right calf strain) and May 21-June 12 (left lateral hamstring strain).
Fielder has batted .212 with 8 home runs and 44 RBI in 89 games with Texas this season, starting 79 games at designated hitter and 9 at first base. He hit his 319th career home run on July 6 at Boston, tying his father Cecil for 116th place on the all-time list. He also reached 1000 career RBI on April 29 vs. Los Angeles-AL. He had surgery for a herniation of the C5/C6 discs in his neck on May 27, 2014 and missed the remainder of that season.
DeShields, 23, will be in his second stint with the Rangers this season, as he was also with the club Opening Day-May 12. DeShields has batted .261 (54-207) with 10 doubles, 3 home runs, and 17 RBI over 54 games with Triple-A Round Rock. He has hit .320 (16-50) with 17 walks over his last 16 games with the Express. DeShields was the club’s Opening Day centerfielder and batted .217 (23-106) with 3 doubles, 2 home runs, and 8 RBI in 30 games with the Rangers before he was optioned to Round Rock.
Alberto, 23, will also be in his second stint with Texas this season. He was a member of the club’s Opening Day roster and was optioned to Round Rock on June 4. Alberto has batted .250 (40-160) with 7 doubles, 4 home runs, and 16 RBI over 39 games at Round Rock, while appearing at both second base and shortstop. He has batted .282 (11-39) with 2 home runs and 5 RBI over his last 10 games with the Express. Alberto appeared in 24 games during his first stint with the Rangers, batting .162 (6-37) with 3 RBI.
With today’s moves, Texas’ roster remains at 40 players.
