Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers announced the following roster moves prior to the second game of Tuesday’s split doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels:

·    Left-handed pitcher Brock Burke (#70) recalled from Triple-A Nashville

·    Right-handed pitcher Jonathan Hernandez (#72) recalled from Double-A Frisco

·    Right-handed pitchers Ian Gibaut and Phillips Valdez optioned to Nashville

The 23-year-old Burke will start tonight’s 7:05 p.m. CT contest against the Angels, which will be his Major League debut. He has combined for a 3-5 record and 3.90 ERA (27 ER/62.1 IP) over 13 games/starts in the Rangers minor league system this season, posting a 1.187 WHIP figure and 9.2 strikeouts per 9 innings with the Arizona League Rangers, Hickory (High-A), Frisco (AA), and Nashville. 

Burke did not pitch for nearly two months while on the injured list due to a blister and left shoulder fatigue from April 23-June 16. Over 8 starts with Frisco (AA) and Nashville since his return from the injured list, Burke has compiled a 3.89 ERA (18 ER/41.2 IP) with 12 walks against 46 strikeouts and an opponent slash line of .232/.292/.391/.682. He was acquired by Texas in a three-team, seven-player trade with Oakland and Tampa Bay on December 21, 2018.

Hernandez, 23, will be in the bullpen and seeking his Major League debut. He has spent the entire season at Double-A Frisco, posting a 5-9 record and 5.16 ERA (55 ER/96.0 IP) in 22 games/16 starts. Over his last 6 outings beginning July 25, Hernandez has compiled a 1.80 ERA and 1.000 WHIP figure, holding opponents to a .184 (9-49) batting average with 6 walks, 12 strikeouts, and no home runs. He last pitched on Friday at Amarillo (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR, 45 pitches/28 strikes). Hernandez, who was born in Memphis and raised in the Dominican Republic, was signed by Texas as a non-drafted free agent on January 30, 2013.

Valdez was recalled yesterday and allowed 2 runs in 4.1 innings while appearing in each of the last two games. He has posted no record with a 3.94 ERA (7 ER/16.0 IP) over 11 appearances spanning three stints with Texas (June 8, July 3-August 1, August 19-20) in his first Major League action. Gibaut has pitched 5.0 scoreless innings in 3 appearances since he was recalled on August 16.

Following these transactions, the Rangers still have 40 players on the club’s Major League roster, along with seven players on the 60-day injured list: LHP Jesse Biddle, RHP Luke Farrell, LHP Taylor Hearn, RHP Nate Jones, LHP Yohander Méndez, LHP Jeffrey Springs, and RHP Edinson Vólquez.