Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers announced prior to tonight’s game that the club has selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Emmanuel Clase (#43 – pronounced CLAW-say) from Double-A Frisco. To make room for Clase on the active roster, the team has optioned left-handed pitcher Kyle Bird to Triple-A Nashville.
The 21-year-old Clase will be in uniform for tonight’s series opener against the Detroit Tigers, seeking his Major League debut. He has combined for a 3-2 record with 12 saves, a 2.82 ERA, and 1.052 WHIP figure over 39 games/one start for High-A Down East and Frisco this season. He has produced a 3.35 ERA (14 ER/37.2 IP) for Frisco since an April 23 promotion, including 12.1 scoreless innings over his last 9 outings and a 0.69 ERA (2 ER/26.0 IP) in his last 22 appearances beginning May 28, posting an opponent slash line of .163/.181/.196/.377 in that latter span. Clase was acquired in a May 7, 2018 trade with San Diego for catcher Brett Nicholas.
Bird has no record, one save, and a 7.82 ERA over 12 relief appearances spanning five stints with the Rangers this season: Opening Day-March 31, April 5-17, May 27-28, June 20-23, and July 11-August 1.
From Rangers PR staff reports
