ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers announced prior to Friday’s series opener against the Angels that the club has activated right-handed pitcher Rafael Montero from the 10-day injured list. Montero (#48) will be seeking his season debut in tonight’s contest.
To make room for Montero on the active 28-man roster, the team has placed left-handed pitcher Joe Palumbo on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to August 4, with an ulcerative colitis flare-up.
The 29-year-old Montero will be active for the first time this season after being placed on the injured list on July 23 (retroactive to July 20) with right elbow tendinitis. He did not appear in the Rangers’ Summer Camp intrasquad contests, and last pitched at the Alternate Training Site on Wednesday. He made 4 Spring Training appearances for Texas prior to the shutdown, going 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA (3 R-1 ER/4.2 IP).
In 2019, Montero spent the first part of the season on the injured list as he returned from right elbow surgery. He was activated on July 22, 2019, and led Texas relievers in holds (7), innings (29.0), strikeouts (tied-34), and opponent batting average (.217) over the rest of the campaign. Montero previously spent four consecutive seasons from 2014-17 with the New York Mets.
Palumbo made the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career this season. He has allowed 3 runs/earned runs over 2.1 innings spanning 2 relief appearances for the Rangers in 2020. The first date he would be eligible to return is August 14.
After today’s moves, the Rangers remain at the limit of 40 players on their Major League roster. MLB announced on Wednesday night that active rosters will consist of 28 players for the remainder of the season.
