The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx (#56) from Triple-A Round Rock. Bibens-Dirkx will be available out of the bullpen for today's series finale in Seattle. The Rangers have also optioned left-handed pitcher Dario Alvarez to Round Rock.
 
Bibens-Dirkx, who turned 32 on April 29, has gone 0-2 with a 3.04 ERA (8 ER/23.2 IP) over 6 games/3 starts for Round Rock this season. He last started for the Express on Monday at Memphis (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 90 pitches/60 strikes). In 3 relief appearances, Bibens-Dirkx has no record, a 1.29 ERA (1 ER/7.0 IP) and 9 strikeouts. The Oregon native signed with Texas as a minor league free agent on June 17, 2016 and has pitched in 318 games over 12 minor league seasons since his selection by Seattle in the 16th round of the 2006 June draft out of the University of Portland.
 
Alvarez has gone 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9.0 IP) in 10 appearances with the Texas this season. He was a member of the club's Opening Day roster.