Rangers roster moves for Sunday, September 1, 2013

The Texas Rangers announced this morning the following roster moves ahead of today's game against Minnesota:

• Designated hitter Lance Berkman (#27) reinstated from 15-day disabled list
• Right-handed pitcher Neftali Feliz (#30) returned from rehab assignment and reinstated from 60-day disabled list
• Left-handed pitcher Michael Kirkman (#50) returned from rehab assignment and reinstated from 60-day disabled list
• Right-handed pitcher Nick Tepesch (#49) returned from rehab assignment and reinstated from 15-day disabled list
• Outfielder/first baseman Jim Adduci (#35) - pronounced uh-DOO-see - contract purchased from Triple-A Round Rock
• Right-handed pitcher Cory Burns (#57) recalled from Triple-A Round Rock
• Catcher Robinson Chirinos (#61) - pronounced chee-REE-nos - recalled from Triple-A Round Rock
• Right-handed pitcher Justin Miller unconditionally released
• Outfielder Joe Benson designated for assignment

With today's moves, the Rangers now have a full 40-man roster and will have 32 players active for the series finale against the Twins.

Berkman has been on the disabled list since July 7 with left hip inflammation. He has batted .254 with 6 home runs and 34 RBI in 68 games with Texas this season. He combined to hit .364 (4-11) with a home run, 3 RBI, and 2 walks in 4 games on injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock (Aug. 10-11) and Double-A Frisco (Aug. 13-14). His last game with Texas was a start as designated hitter on July 6 vs. Houston. He ranks 75th all-time with 366 career home runs.

Feliz will be seeking to make his first major league appearance since a start on May 18, 2012 at Houston. He last pitched in relief for Texas on April 25, 2012 vs. New York-AL. Feliz has been on the disabled list all season after Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow on August 1, 2012. He tossed 10.2 shutout innings over 8 outings on injury rehabilitation assignments with the Arizona League Rangers and Triple-A Round Rock last month. His last outing was Wednesday at Albuquerque (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 41 pitches/28 strikes).

Kirkman has been on the disabled list since June 7 with a recurrence of cutaneous lymphoma. He has gone 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA (20 ER/22.0 IP) in 25 relief appearances for the Rangers in 2013. His last major league appearance was June 6 at Boston. He went 2-3 with a 6.98 ERA (23 ER/29.2 IP) over 6 games/5 starts with Round Rock on an injury rehabilitation assignment. He last pitched in a start on Friday at Omaha (L, 5.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R-ER, 4 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 2 WP, 100 pitches/56 strikes).

Tepesch has been on the disabled list since July 6 with right elbow inflammation. He began the year as the Rangers' fifth starter, going 4-6 with a 4.85 ERA (46 ER/85.1 IP) in 16 games/starts for Texas in his first major league action. Tepesch made 2 starts on injury rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco, posting no record with a 1.50 ERA (1 ER/6.0 IP), last action coming in a start on Friday vs. Corpus Christi (ND, 4.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 59 pitches/40 strikes). His last outing for the Rangers was a start on July 5 vs. Houston.

Adduci, 28, is seeking to make his major league debut after 10 seasons and 889 games in the minors. In first season in Texas organization, he spent year at Round Rock and batted .298 (141-473) with 24 doubles, 3 triples, 16 home runs, 65 RBI, 32 stolen bases, and 75 runs over 127 games. He batted .383 with a .465 on-base percentage in August, including a .415 (17-41) mark with 3 doubles, 2 homers, and 8 RBI in his last 10 games with the Express. A longtime Cubs farmhand, Adduci was born in British Columbia but attended high school in suburban Chicago. Adduci would be just the fourth position player born in Canada to appear for the Rangers, joining Rick Lisi (1981), Rob Ducey (1993-94), and Matt Stairs (2006).

Burns will be in his third stint with the Rangers this season, the others May 16-21 and July 7-22. He has gone 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA (2 ER/11.0 IP) in 9 relief outings for Texas this season, including 7.1 scoreless innings over his last 6 appearances. He has not allowed a home run in a combined 48.2 innings over 47 games with Round Rock and the Rangers this season. His last outing with Texas was July 21 vs. Baltimore, and his last appearance for the Express came Friday at Omaha (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R-ER, 13 pitches). He has gone 0-2 with 20 saves and a 2.15 ERA (9 ER/37.2 IP) in 38 games for Round Rock in 2013.

Chirinos will be in his third stint with Texas, the others May 10-20 and June 18-July 18. He has batted .154 (4-26) with 2 doubles in 10 games/7 starts with the Rangers this season, last appearing in a start at first base on July 9 at Baltimore. He was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay on April 8 and has spent the balance of the season with Round Rock, batting .257 (68-265) with 8 home runs, 10 doubles, 40 RBI, and 35 runs in 74 games.

Miller, 26, has combined to go 1-1 with a 7.67 ERA (23 ER/27.0 IP) over 27 relief appearances with Frisco (AA) and Round Rock (AAA) this season. He was on the Rangers 60-day disabled list from April 11-June 11 as he continued his rehabilitation from Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on April 18, 2012. He has never appeared in the majors.

Benson, 25, has combined to hit .215 (66-307) with 7 home runs and 30 RBI in 86 games for Rochester (Twins AAA), Frisco (AA), and the Arizona League Rangers this season. He was received from Minnesota on a waiver claim on May 25. The Rangers have 10 days to trade, release, or outright Benson to the minor leagues.