Rangers designate Field, try Alberto at 2nd

ARLINGTON -- With the addition of Saturday's starting pitcher, Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez, to the roster, the Rangers had to make a corresponding move and chose to designate infielder Tommy Field for assignment. With Field gone, second base is a position in flux for the club with Hanser Alberto entering the equation.

Field appeared in 14 games for the Rangers over the past three weeks, hitting .195 with two homers and five RBIs in 41 at-bats. Field, who was brought up to replace struggling second baseman Rougned Odor, played second base in all but one game for Texas.

"It's just the way the game goes," Field said. "Hopefully a team picks me up off waivers and I'm in the big leagues, but if not, the Rangers organization is a really good organization to be part of."

Field's departure opened an opportunity for Alberto to earn playing time at second base; Alberto made his first Major League start Saturday at second. He was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

"He's a premium defender," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said of Alberto. "With that defense, the ability to fill in at shortstop when we need him to, [to] play second base. ... He can even play third base if we had to play him there. I like the speed at which he plays. There's a different speed. So all those things came into play."

Alberto and Adam Rosales are the most likely candidates to play second for the Rangers in the foreseeable future, though Delino DeShields and even the currently injured Ryan Rua could be an option at some point. The club apparently is in no immediate rush to bring Odor back from Round Rock despite positive reports from the farm.

"[Odor] has made fine progress defensively, made some adjustments at the plate, been more efficient with his swings, calming the chase down," Banister said. "He has made some progress in all the categories that we've asked him to make progress in since he's been down."

Injury update

• Rua (ankle fracture) may be ready to begin a rehab assignment in the Minor Leagues by the end next week. "That's the tentative thought process for him," Banister said. "He's looked good. ... He's swinging the bat very well in BP. ... He's doing his outfield work, getting some work on the dirt [at] third base, first base, second base."

• Reliever Neftali Feliz (abscess) will throw a bullpen session Sunday, Banister said. It'll be his first since he was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 20.