Texas Rangers acquire OF Michael Choice and INF Chris Bostick from Oakland for RHP Josh Lindblom and OF Craig Gentry
Choice starred at University of Texas-Arlington and Mansfield Timberview High School
Arlington, Texas-The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has acquired outfielder Michael Choice and infielder Chris Bostick from the Oakland A's for right-handed pitcher Josh Lindblom and outfielder Craig Gentry.
Choice, 24, made his major league debut with the A's this past September going 5-for-18 (.278) in 9 games, including two starts in right and one in left . He singled off Martin Perez for his first major league hit on Sept. 3 at Oakland. The right-handed batter was a Pacific Coast League all-star at Sacramento, batting .302 with 14 homers and 89 RBI in 132 games, his first Triple-A action. Choice slugged 30 homers for Class A Stockton in 2011. He was listed as Oakland's number two prospect by Baseball America entering 2013.
The Fort Worth native was the tenth overall selection in the first round by Oakland in the 2010 MLB First Year Player Draft after starring for three seasons at the University of Texas-Arlington. He is the Mavericks' all-time career home run leader (34) and was the 2010 Southland Conference Player of the Year, leading the nation in walks (76). He is a graduate of Mansfield Timberview High School.
Bostick, a 20-year-old second baseman, batted .282 with 14 homers, 89 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 129 games at Class A Beloit in 2013. The right-handed batter ranked third in the Midwest League in RBI and was fourth with 221 total bases. Bostick has played three pro seasons after being selected by Oakland in the 44th round of the 2011 First Year Player Draft.
Choice was listed as the A's number two prospect with Bostick listed as the number eight prospect on Baseball Prospectus' top ten list of Oakland prospects after the 2013 season.
Gentry batted .280 with 2 homers, 22 RBI, and 24 stolen bases in 106 games with the Rangers in 2013, his second full season with the club. Lindblom was 1-3, 5.46 in 8 games/5 starts with the Rangers and 8-4, 3.08 in 20 games/18 starts with the Triple-A Round Rock after joining Texas from Philadelphia in December 2012.
Choice goes on the Rangers major league roster while Bostick has been assigned to Class A Myrtle Beach. With today's moves, the Rangers have 38 players on their major league roster.