Texas Rangers place 1B Mitch Moreland 15-day disabled list; purchase the contract of 1B Chris McGuiness from Round Rock

The Texas Rangers today announced that first baseman Mitch Moreland has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, effective today with a strained right hamstring.

To replace Moreland, the Rangers have purchased the contract of first baseman Chris McGuiness (#21) from Triple-A Round Rock of the Pacific Coast League. The 25-year-old McGuiness will be looking to make his major league debut. To make room for McGuiness on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Colby Lewis has been transferred from the 15 to the 60-day disabled list.

Moreland sustained the injury running the bases in the seventh inning of Wednesday night's game in Boston. He returned to Texas this morning to undergo an MRI and be examined by Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister. He will remain in Texas to undergo treatment for the remainder of this roadtrip. Moreland is hitting .288 with 12 homers and 29 RBI in 58 games this season.

McGuiness has spent the entire season with Triple-A Round Rock as the team's starting first baseman, batting .275 (53-193) with 6 home runs, 19 doubles, and 34 RBI over 55 games in his first action above the Double-A level. Over his last 35 games beginning April 27, McGuiness has batted .317 (40-126) with 3 home runs, 14 doubles, 21 RBI, and 18 runs scored. The left-handed batter has compiled a .286 (40-140) average against right-handed pitchers in the Pacific Coast League.

Originally acquired by Texas in a July 31, 2010 trade with Boston involving Jarrod Saltalamacchia, McGuiness was initially selected by the Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2009 June draft. Cleveland selected him from Texas in the December 6, 2012 Rule 5 Draft, and McGuiness spent the bulk of spring training with the Indians before he was returned to the Rangers on March 27. His only game for Texas this spring came on March 30 vs. San Diego at the Alamodome in San Antonio. 

He was named the Arizona Fall League Most Valuable Player last year, batting .283 with 4 home runs and 27 RBI in 25 games for Surprise. The Charleston, South Carolina native played college ball in his hometown for The Citadel. He would be the seventh player out of The Citadel to appear in the majors.

Lewis has spent the entire 2013 season on the disabled list as he continues to rehab from surgery on July 27, 2012 to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow. Lewis is 0-1, 9.00 (6 ER/6.0 IP) in 2 starts at Round Rock and 0-0, 7.71 (2 ER/2.1 IP) in one start at Double-A Frisco on rehab assignment but has been removed from that assignment due to muscular soreness in his elbow.