Rangers acquire RHP Tyson Miller on waiver claim from Chicago Cubs; activate RHP Kyle Gibson and transfer RHP Hunter Wood to 60-day injured list

LHP Wes Benjamin was optioned to Round Rock (AAA) following game on Thursday

June 4th, 2021

Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers announced the following transactions prior to Friday’s homestand opener against the Tampa Bay Rays:

• Right-handed pitcher Tyson Miller acquired on waiver claim from Chicago-NL and optioned to Round Rock (AAA)

• Right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson activated from 10-day Injured List

• Right-handed pitcher Hunter Wood transferred from 10-day Injured List to 60-day Injured List

• Left-handed pitcher Wes Benjamin optioned to Round Rock (AAA), effective postgame on Thursday

Miller, 25, has no record and a 5.06 ERA (3 ER/5.1 IP) over 3 games/one start with Triple-A Iowa this season with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. He has averaged 10.1 strikeouts per 9 innings over his brief stint at Triple-A after spending time at the club’s Arizona complex to begin the season. Miller did not make his season debut until May 22 and his lone start this year came in his last outing on May 29 vs. St. Paul (3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 43 pitches/30 strikes).

Miller was designated for assignment by the Cubs on May 30, when the Cubs added infielder Sergio Alcántara to the team’s 40-man roster. Miller made his MLB debut with the Cubs in 2020, posting no record and a 5.40 ERA (3 ER/5.0 IP) over 2 games/one start spanning two total days on which the team had doubleheaders: August 17 and September 5. He was originally selected by Chicago-NL in the fourth round of the 2016 June draft out of California Baptist University.

Gibson is the Rangers’ scheduled starting pitcher for tonight’s homestand opener against the Rays. He was on the 10-day Injured List from May 22-June 3 for a right groin strain, and last pitched on May 21 vs. Houston. He has a 3-0 record with a 2.24 ERA (15 ER/60.1 IP) over 10 games/starts for the Rangers this season.

Wood, who has a mild UCL sprain in his right elbow, was placed on the 10-day Injured List on May 25, retroactive to May 23. The first date he would be eligible to return is July 22. Wood produced a 3.60 ERA (2 ER/5.0 IP) over 5 relief appearances for Texas during his lone stint on the active roster this season from May 15-22.

Benjamin pitched 2.0 innings in Thursday’s loss in Colorado and he was optioned to Round Rock (AAA) after the game. He has a 0-2 record with an 8.76 ERA (12 ER/12.1 IP) in 6 games/one start spanning three stints with the Rangers this season: Opening Day-April 16, May 14, and May 25-June 3.

Following today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the Major League roster, along with seven players on the 60-day Injured List.