Rangers purchase contracts of six players for 40-man roster

Arlington, Texas – The Texas Rangers announced this evening that the club has purchased the contracts of the following six players, adding all six to the club’s 40-man roster (in alphabetical order): RHP Jake Brigham, RHP Roman Mendez, RHP Justin Miller, LHP Martin Perez, RHP Neil Ramirez, and RHP Matt West.

With these additions, the Rangers now have 37 players on the club’s 40-man roster.

Brigham, 23, spent last season with Frisco (AA), going 6-6 with a 4.49 ERA (57 ER/114.1 IP) and 114 strikeouts in 35 games/14 starts. The right-hander opened the season in the Frisco rotation, but shifted to the club’s bullpen in June and went 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA (16 ER/40.0 IP) and 46 strikeouts over 21 relief appearances. Overall, Brigham held opposing right-handed batters to a .213 (55-258) average, while opponents had an overall .244 (107-439) average. The Florida native was selected in the 6th round of the 2006 June Draft.

Mendez, 21, spent his first full season in the Texas organization with Hickory (Low-A), going 9-1 with a 3.31 ERA (43 ER/117.0 IP), one save, and 130 strikeouts in 26 games/20 starts. The Dominican Republic native ranked among the South Atlantic League leaders in strikeouts (T2nd), ERA (5th), and wins (T9th), while earning a spot in the SAL All-Star Game. SAL batters hit .259 (117-452) against Mendez, including .246 (70-284) by right-handed batters. The right-hander was acquired from Boston in a four-player trade on July 31, 2010.

Miller, 24, spent the entire campaign with Frisco, going 9-1 with a 1.81 ERA (14 ER/69.2 IP), 13 saves, and 77 strikeouts over 48 relief appearances. The Fresno State product’s 13 saves were 2nd-most in the Texas organization and 3rd-most in the Texas League. Miller limited opposing batters to a .185 (46-248) average and stranded 18 of 22 inherited runners. The Bakersfield, Cailf. native continued his season in the Arizona Fall League with the Surprise Saguaros, going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/2.1 IP) and 2 strikeouts over 2 relief appearances. Miller was selected in the 16th round of the 2008 June Draft and signed by Butch Metzger.

Perez, 20, combined to go 8-6 with a 4.33 ERA (66 ER/137.1 IP) in 27 games/26 starts between Frisco (AA) and Round Rock (AAA). The southpaw began the season with Frisco and tossed the 2nd perfect game in RoughRiders history on April 19 at Arkansas, retiring all 15 batters he faced in a 6-inning, rain-shortened contest. Perez was also the winning pitcher in the 2011 Texas League All-Star Game and appeared in the All Star Futures Game at Chase Field.  The Venezuela native was signed as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2007.

Ramirez, 22, combined to go 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA (34 ER/98.0 IP) over 25 games/starts with Myrtle Beach (High-A), Frisco (AA), and Round Rock (AAA). The Virginia Beach, Va. native was elevated to Triple-A Round Rock after just one start in Myrtle Beach and spent the majority of the campaign with the Express, leading the Rangers’ top farm club in strikeouts (86). The right-hander made a pair of starts in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 1.29 ERA (1 ER/7.0 IP) and 5 strikeouts. Ramirez was selected in the supplemental first round (44th overall) of the 2007 June Draft and signed by Russ Ardolina.

West, who will turn 23 on Monday, was converted from an outfielder to a pitcher this season and combined to go 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA (9 ER/27.0 IP), 9 saves, and 35 strikeouts against just one walk in 24 relief appearances. The Houston native and resident was promoted to Myrtle Beach in the final week of the season and recorded a save in his lone postseason appearance for the Pelicans. West was selected as an infielder in the 2nd round of the 2007 June Draft and signed by Randy Taylor.