SEATTLE -- The Rangers added three more players to their September roster, recalling infielder Joey Gallo and outfielder Jared Hoying from Triple-A Round Rock and activating right-handed reliever Tanner Scheppers from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday.
The Rangers are eager to see if Scheppers, who has missed the entire season while recovering from left knee surgery, is close to what he was in 2013 and where he fits into a bullpen that could use reinforcement.
"I got my Spring Training out of the way and this is like Opening Night," Scheppers said. "I'm excited ... a lot of people helped me get here. I'm grateful. I feel like it's just the beginning of the season. I can't say I'm in mid-season form, but I'll give it all on the field. I did everything I could to get here and I'll do everything I can to be successful."

The Rangers have a core group at the back end of the bullpen with Sam Dyson as the closer, Jake Diekman as the primary lefthanded setup reliever and Matt Bush from the right-side. Right-handers Tony Barnette and Keone Kela pitch in front of them while left-hander Alex Claudio and right-hander Nick Martínez are for middle and long relief.
Rookies Yohander Méndez, José Leclerc and Dario Álvarez are used when needed, and Jeremy Jeffress remains on the restricted list for the remainder of the season while dealing with his personal issues.
Scheppers is basically replacing Jeffress.
"He'll fit in that middle right-handed role," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "We'll get him going. He's not a multi-inning guy. More like one inning, maybe four outs."
Scheppers was outstanding for the Rangers in 2013, pitching in 76 games and going 6-2 with a 1.88 ERA. But he has been on the disabled list five times in the last three years.
Scheppers had a fastball that averaged 96.3 mph in 2013, which ranked him among the top 20 hardest throwers in the Major Leagues that year. He is not quite back to that velocity, but he still has the sharp breaking ball.
"The stuff is similar," Banister said. "Not quite the top end velocity but similar in sharpness and pitchability."
Gallo, the Rangers No. 1 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, is back in the big leagues as a September callup. He rejoined the Rangers on Tuesday but will likely have a limited role.
He was called up after hitting .240 with 25 home runs, 66 RBIs, a .367 on-base percentage and a .529 slugging percentage. He struck out 150 times in 433 plate appearances but also walked 68 times. He came out of Spring Training trying to take a more selective and patient approach at the plate and thought he was able to carry it through most of the season. He admitted he struggled in August.
"It has been up and down, but overall I'm very happy," Gallo said. "I'm going to be a guy that strikes out a lot but I'm happy with on-base and I'm able to put up power numbers. I think I played good at first and third base. You can always say you wish this could be better or that could be better, but I'm very happy with my season."

He is not finished. Gallo said once the Rangers' season is over, he plans to play Winter Ball, although it hasn't been determined what country.
Hoying has also split time between the Rangers and Round Rock. He batted .269 with 16 home runs, 66 RBIs and 18 stolen bases for Round Rock. He has played in 17 games for Texas and has seven hits in 29 at-bats for a .241 average.
Worth noting
• The Rangers have sent pitchers Chi Chi González and Andrew Faulkner and utility infielders Drew Robinson and Doug Bernier to their training complex in Surprise, Ariz., to continue working out now that the Minor League season is over. The Rangers want all four to be ready in case there is a need at the Major League level.
• Mitch Moreland celebrated his 31st birthday on Tuesday.
• Alvarez struck out six batters in 2 1/3 innings of work on Monday. It's the most by a Rangers reliever since Scott Baker struck out seven on June 9, 2014.
• Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who is on the disabled list with a fractured left forearm, is expected to begin a throwing program on Wednesday and then start swinging a bat on Thursday. Choo had surgery on Aug. 14 and is still hoping he can get back at some point during the postseason.