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Rangers recall INF Hanser Alberto from Round Rock; option RHP Phil Klein

Alberto will be seeking his Major League debut

Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers announced prior to tonight's game that the club has recalled infielder Hanser Alberto (#68) from Triple-A Round Rock. To make room on the active roster for Alberto, the team has optioned right-handed pitcher Phil Klein to Round Rock.

Alberto, 22, will be looking to make his major league debut in tonight's homestand opener against the Red Sox. He has spent the entire season with Round Rock in his first career Triple-A action, batting .303 (46-152) with 2 home runs and 13 RBI in 42 games. Over his last 23 games beginning May 2, Alberto has a .375 (30-80) average with 10 extra-base hits and 12 runs scored, including a 16-game hit streak during that span. Alberto's .994 (1 E/171 TC) fielding percentage at shortstop is the highest in the Pacific Coast League this season. He was in major league spring training camp for the first time in 2015, appearing in 13 games before he was optioned to Round Rock on March 24.

Alberto earned a Rawlings Gold Glove as the top defensive shortstop in the minor leagues last season and was selected as the Rangers 2014 Minor League Defender of the Year. A native of the Dominican Republic, Alberto was originally signed by Texas as a non-drafted free agent in November 2009.

Klein has gone 1-0 with an 8.25 ERA (11 ER/12.0 IP) in 8 games/2 starts over 2 stints with Texas this season: Opening Day-April 14 and May 20-27. His last outing came in a start on Monday at Cleveland.

With today's moves, the Rangers still have 39 players on the club's 40-man roster.

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