Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced the following transactions prior to Tuesday night’s game against Oakland at Globe Life Field:

• RHP Kohei Arihara (#35) contract selected from Round Rock (AAA)
• INF/OF Mark Mathias (#9) recalled from Round Rock (AAA)
• RHP Yerry Rodriguez optioned to Round Rock (AAA)
• OF Elier Hernandez designated for assignment

Arihara, who just celebrated his 30th birthday on Thursday, is scheduled to make his Texas season debut in a start tonight against the A's. Tonight would be his 1st MLB appearance since a start on 9/15/21 vs. HOU (L, 4.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R-ER). The right-hander has gone 3-6 with a 4.88 ERA over 18 games/14 starts at Triple-A this season, and will pitch on 5 days' rest since his last start on Wed. at Oklahoma City (ND, 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R-ER).

The Japan native made his MLB debut with 10 starts for Texas in 2021 and was a member of the Rangers' Opening Day rotation, but his campaign was sidetracked due to injuries and he was designated for assignment on Sept. 19, 2021. Arihara was signed to a two-year contract on Dec. 26, 2020 following a six-year career with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball’s (NPB) Pacific League (JPL).

Mathias (pronounced muh-THIGH-us) was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers on August 1, along with left-handed pitcher Antoine Kelly, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Matt Bush. He has appeared in 6 Major League games for the Brewers this season, and has 22 total games of MLB experience with Milwaukee in 2020 and 2022.

Mathias has spent the majority of 2022 at Triple-A, combining to slash .322/.422/.518/.940 with 9 home runs and 34 RBI over 58 games with Nashville (Brewers AAA) and Round Rock. He has played in 8 games with Round Rock since the trade, batting .345 (10-29) with one home run and 4 RBI. Mathias was originally selected by Cleveland in the third round of the 2015 MLB Draft out of Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo. 

Rodriguez was recalled from Round Rock on Sunday for his first Major League stint, but did not appear in either of the club’s games on Sunday or Monday. The right-hander has gone 3-1 with a 4.43 ERA (21 ER/42.2 IP), 4 saves, and 57 strikeouts over 37 games/1 start for Round Rock this season, his first working as a full-time reliever.

The Rangers have seven days to trade, release, or outright Hernandez to the minor leagues. Hernandez batted .182 with 3 RBI over 14 games with Texas in his first Major League action after having his contract selected from Round Rock on July 14. The outfielder has spent the balance of the year at Triple-A, slashing .295/.364/.546/.910 (61-207) with 11 home runs and 35 RBI in 62 games.

RAMOS AGREES TO TERMS: The Rangers have agreed to terms with catcher Wilson Ramos on a minor league contract, and he is expected to be assigned to Round Rock. Ramos, who turned 35 years old on Wednesday, owns a career .271/.318/.432/.750 slash line with 136 home runs and 534 RBI over 990 games spanning 12 seasons with Minnesota (2010), Washington (2010-16), Tampa Bay (2017-18), Philadelphia (2018), New York-NL (2019-20), Detroit (2021), and Cleveland (2021). He was named to the National League All-Star Team in 2016 with Washington and the American League All-Star Team in 2018 with Tampa Bay, and won the National League Silver Slugger award for catchers in 2016.

Ramos' last appearance in an MLB contest came with Cleveland on August 29, 2021 vs. Boston, when he suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee. He also tore the ACL in his right knee on September 26, 2016 vs. Arizona while playing with Washington.

Since 2011, Ramos ranks among the top 10 catchers in RBI (5th, 529), slugging percentage (.433), batting average (6th, .271), home runs (8th, 135), and hits (8th, 924). For his career, he owns a .994 fielding percentage and has thrown out 23.1% (123 of 532) attempted base stealers. He set career highs with 22 home runs and 80 RBI with Washington in 2016, leading all National League catchers in slugging percentage (.496) and RBI (80-tied) while earning two eighth-place votes for National League MVP.

The Venezuela native has caught three no-hitters in his career, all with Washington: September 28, 2014, Jordan Zimmermann vs. Miami; June 20, 2015, Max Scherzer vs. Pittsburgh; October 3, 2015, Max Scherzer vs. New York-AL. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first player to catch three no-hitters in a 162-game span.

Following today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with two players (Mitch Garver and Eli White) on the 60-day Injured List.