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Hamilton back today in pinch-hitting role

Rangers outfielder may have offseason knee surgery; club calling up Gallo, Stubbs, Jackson and Ohlendorf

SAN DIEGO -- Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton will be limited to pinch-hitting duty for the immediate future when he is activated off the disabled list Tuesday.

Hamilton has been on the disabled list since Aug. 16 with a sore left knee that may need offseason "cleanup" surgery. He is not ready to play the field, but the Rangers, with rosters being expanded in September, feel he can help as a pinch-hitter.

"We'll take what we can get from him," general manager Jon Daniels said. "For much of September, that could be as a pinch-hitter."

Catcher Carlos Corporan is also being activated off the DL. The Rangers are also calling up four players: third baseman Joey Gallo, outfielder Drew Stubbs and pitchers Luke Jackson and Ross Ohlendorf.

Tuesday is the first day that rosters can be expanded to up to 40 players. The Rangers may call up other players later in the month as needed or once Triple-A Round Rock is done with Pacific Coast League playoffs.

Stubbs gives the club an extra outfielder and a pinch-runner. That allows Texas to carry Hamilton as a pinch-hitter. Gallo can also play the outfield and the Rangers already have Shin-Soo Choo, Delino DeShields, Ryan Strausborger and Will Venable.

"We have a number of outfield options, so if we have to pinch-run for [Hamilton], we can," Daniels said.

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger and listen to his podcast.
Read More: Texas Rangers, Joey Gallo, Carlos Corporan, Josh Hamilton, Drew Stubbs