BOSTON -- Texas right-hander Jose Leclerc was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, and left-hander Michael Roth was designated for assignment.
Leclerc pitched in 22 games, including two starts, between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock this season. The 22-year-old combined to go 1-5 with a 2.64 ERA, allowing 13 earned runs through 44 1/3 innings pitched in the Minor Leagues.
"When the opportunity is right, we're going to get him on a Major League mound and let him pitch. Take a look at what it looks like, how he handles it before we start. He's going to be like any other relief pitcher right now. He'll have to climb that process of where he fits into the bullpen," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.
Leclerc opened the year as a starter for Frisco, allowing seven runs in eight innings pitched. The righty was promoted to Round Rock on May 26, where he went 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 12 games.
Leclerc has allowed just two runs through 14 innings in his last eight games. He's excited to be joining the Rangers in Boston.
"I feel very, very happy," he said. "And I know that I've been working very hard to make it here."
Roth tossed 3 2/3 innings in the Rangers' 12-5 loss to the Red Sox on Monday. He allowed 10 hits and six runs to close out the game, giving a taxed and tired bullpen a much-needed rest. It was his only outing for the Rangers after being purchased Sunday.
Upon being designated, Roth is immediately removed from the Rangers' 40-man roster. In the next 10 days, he can be traded, claimed off irrevocable outright waivers or, if he clears waivers, be assigned to the minor leagues or released.
"Roth did a great job for us yesterday. Got us out of the game without us having to get another reliever up. We were in dire need of that. So with that, he wasn't going to be available for us for a few days, and we felt the need to have some protection out there," Banister said.
Worth noting
• Mitch Moreland was scratched from Sunday's lineup with right-calf tightness and made an appearance as a pinch hitter during Monday's game against the Red Sox. Banister said as long as Moreland feels ready to go, there's a good chance he will be included in Wednesday's lineup against Boston.
• Yu Darvish tossed 42 pitches over two-plus innings at Double-A Frisco on Monday, giving up two runs and three walks. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Thursday and start another rehab assignment this weekend for Frisco.
• Keone Kela also made an appearance in the eighth inning for Round Rock on Monday, striking out three of four batters in 18 pitches. He's scheduled for another assignment for Round Rock on Thursday. "The report I got on Kela was pretty dominant," Banister said. "The fastball was 95-97, the breaking ball was sharp and hard. He didn't seem to have much trouble. The ball came out clean, and he came out of it feeling good and healthy."