The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has acquired outfielder Joe Benson on a waiver claim from the Minnesota Twins. To make room on the 40-man roster for Benson, the club has transferred left-handed pitcher Matt Harrison from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list.
Benson, 25, has been optioned to Frisco (AA). He has spent the season with Triple-A Rochester, batting .192 with one home run and 9 RBI in 42 games. Originally selected by the Twins in the second round of the 2006 June draft, his only major league action came in 2011, when he batted .239 with 6 doubles, a triple, and no home runs over 21 games with Minnesota. He was rated one of the game’s top 100 prospects by Baseball America prior to the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Harrison was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 11, retroactive to April 7, with an inflamed nerve in his lower back. The club’s Opening Day starter has since had a pair of surgeries on the back. The first date he would be eligible to return is now June 6.
With these moves, the Rangers still have a full 40-man roster.
