Rangers place catcher on injured list ahead of Guardians game

The Texas Rangers placed catcher Danny Jansen on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain ahead of Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians. The move was made retroactive to June 3, while veteran catcher Elias Diaz was signed on a major league contract to help fill the void behind the plate.

Jansen, 31, said the issue surfaced after catching Jacob deGrom’s start in St. Louis on June 1. He later underwent scans that revealed elbow inflammation. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker pointed out that the injury primarily affects Jansen when throwing, adding that while he could have played in an emergency situation, his ability to control the running game would have been limited.

The veteran backstop has been in an offensive slump this season, batting .171 (21-for-123) with three home runs, six doubles, one triple and 12 RBIs across 41 games. Amid a cold stretch with the bat, Jansen has handled the bulk of the catching duties, leading the club with 36 starts behind the plate. He has not appeared in a game since June 2.

To address the lack of catching depth, Texas brought in Diaz, a 35-year-old veteran who became a free agent after his departure from the Kansas City Royals. In 10 games with Kansas City this season, he hit .227 with two home runs, five RBIs, two doubles and an .852 OPS.

Diaz brings a wealth of experience to the Rangers. Across 12 major league seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Royals, he owns a .246 career batting average with 73 home runs and 331 RBIs in 840 games. He was selected to the National League All-Star team in 2023 and earned All-Star Game MVP honors after hitting the game-winning two-run homer in Seattle. Defensively, Diaz ranked third among National League catchers with 65 runners caught stealing from 2021-25, behind only JT Realmuto and Will Smith.

Texas also assigned infielder Josh Smith to Double-A Frisco for a rehabilitation stint. Smith has been unavailable since May 3 due to a glute strain and was later diagnosed with viral meningitis. He is scheduled to serve as Frisco’s designated hitter as he begins his return to action.

The Rangers entered Saturday’s matchup in second place in the American League West.

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