Rangers Select Contract of RHP Pedro Payano From Nashville, Option LHP Locke St. John to Nashville

Minneapolis, Minn. — The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Pedro Payano (#51) from Triple-A Nashville. Payano will be active for today’s 1:10 CT game against the Twins, seeking his major league debut.

To make room on the active roster for Payano, the club has optioned left-handed pitcher Locke St. John to Nashville. To make room on the 40-man roster for Payano, the Rangers have designated infielder Patrick Wisdom for assignment.

Payano, 24, has combined to go 5-3 with a 3.91 ERA (30 ER/69.0 IP) over 15 games/14 starts for Nashville and Double-A Frisco in 2019. Between the two levels, he has averaged 10.6 strikeouts per 9 innings while limiting opponents to a .202/.309/.335/.644 slash line with 32 walks/81 strikeouts. Payano began the year with Frisco before earning a promotion to Nashville on May 29. In his last three starts with the Sounds, Payano has posted a 0.75 ERA (1 ER/12.0 IP) with 7 walks/15 strikeouts, with opponents batting .128 (5-39). He last pitched on Thursday at Omaha (2.0, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 24 pitches/16 strikes).

Payano has spent his entire career in the Texas organization since signing as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2011. Over eight minor league seasons, the New York, NY native has gone 43-36 with a 3.55 ERA in 138 games/121 starts, and owns career marks of 8.3 strikeouts per 9 innings, 3.2 walks per 9, and just 0.6 home runs per 9.

St. John made five appearances in relief in his first major league action after his contract was selected from Nashville on June 20, posting no record and a 6.75 ERA (4 ER/5.1 IP). He has split the balance of the season between Nashville and Frisco, combining to go 3-2 with a 1.56 ERA (6 ER/34.2 IP) in 26 games.

The Rangers have seven days to trade, release, or outright Wisdom to the minor leagues. Wisdom has spent the majority of this season with Nashville, batting .199 with 12 home runs and 34 RBI in 61 games for the Sounds. In his lone stint with Texas from April 7-25, Wisdom batted .154 with one RBI in 9 games.

Following these transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with five players on the 60-day injured list: RHP Luke Farrell, LHP Taylor Hearn, LHP Yohander Méndez, LHP Jeffrey Springs, and RHP Edinson Vólquez.