Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced the following four transactions:

•  Left-handed pitcher Locke St. John (#45) contract selected from Triple-A Nashville
• Left-handed pitcher Kyle Bird (#55) recalled from Triple-A Nashville
• Left-handed pitcher Joe Palumbo optioned to Triple-A Nashville
• Left-handed pitcher Drew Smyly designated for assignment

 St. John, 26, will be in uniform for Thursday’s series finale against Cleveland, seeking his Major League debut. He has combined to post a 3-2 record with a 1.56 ERA (6 ER/34.2 IP), 4 saves, and a 1.067 WHIP figure over 26 relief appearances with Frisco (AA) and Nashville (AAA) this season. St. John has averaged 12.7 strikeouts per 9 innings. He began the year in the Texas League before a promotion to Nashville on June 6 for his first career action at the Triple-A level. Over his last 7 games between the top two Texas affiliates, he has allowed one earned run across 9.1 innings with one walk against 16 strikeouts. He last pitched on Tuesday vs. Salt Lake (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 14 pitches/11 strikes).

 St. John made one appearance for the Rangers this spring, recording the final two outs of the club’s loss on March 20 vs. Cincinnati. He is in his second season in the Texas organization after being selected in the minor league phase of the 2017 Rule 5 Draft. He was originally selected by Detroit in the 32nd round of the 2014 June Draft out of the University of South Alabama.

Bird has no record with one save and a 6.75 ERA (5 ER/6.2 IP) over 6 relief appearances spanning three stints (Opening Day-March 31, April 5-17, May 27-28) with the Rangers this season in his first Major League action. He will be seeking his first appearance with Texas since May 27 at Seattle. Bird has spent the balance of the campaign with Nashville, going 1-0 with one save and a 2.30 ERA (4 ER/15.2 IP) over 13 relief appearances. He has a 0.73 ERA (1 ER/12.1 IP) in his last 10 appearances for the Sounds, most recently appearing on Tuesday vs. Salt Lake (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 17 pitches/13 strikes).

 Palumbo took the loss on Wednesday versus Cleveland in his second Major League start. He has been on the active roster for only his two starts (June 8 vs. OAK-N and June 19 vs. CLE), allowing 11 runs over 6.0 innings. Palumbo will be seeking his first career action at the Triple-A level when he joins the Sounds.

 Smyly has posted a 1-5 record with an 8.42 ERA over 13 games/9 starts for the Rangers this season, allowing 19 home runs. The Rangers have seven days to trade, release, or outright Smyly to the minor leagues.

 Following these transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with five players on the 60-day injured list: RHP Luke Farrell, LHP Taylor Hearn, OF Scott Heineman, LHP Yohander Méndez, and RHP Edinson Vólquez.