The Rangers have designated 1B Ben Broussard for assignment because of his poor play this season. He played in 26 games this season for the Rangers and he was 13 for 82 (.159 avg, .493 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 3 homers and 8 RBIs. Broussard will be replaced by a platoon of Frank Catalanotto and Chris Shelton. Catalanotto has played in 27 games this season for the Rangers and he is 19 for 73 (.260 avg, .790 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs. Shelton is off to a rough start this season in 7 games as he is 2 for 19 (.105 avg, .490 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. Catalanotto and Shelton will likley have no problem out performing Broussard.

19-year old shortstop Elvis Andrus is the #1 rated prospect according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook. They got him in the Mark Teixiera to the Braves last season. He has played in 29 games in AA-ball so far this season and he is 33 for 125 (.264 avg, .617 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 13 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Andrus is blocked at the major league level by Michael Young so the Rangers will likely take it slow with him.

Josh Hamilton has been everything that the Rangers expected when they acquired him from the Reds this off season. He was voted as the American League Player of the Month in April. Hamilton has now played in 32 games this season for the Rangers and he is 39 for 130 (.300 avg, .868 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 6 homers and 33 RBIs. Look for him to keep up the good work as long as he can stay healthy because he has such a smooth swing.

The Rangers have placed righty starter Jason Jennings on the 15-day disabled list with muscle soreness in his right forearm. Jennings was off to a horrible start this season for the Rangers. In his first 6 starts of the season, Jennings was 0-5 with a 8.56 ERA and a 1.94 WHIP. Jennings will be replaced in the rotation by 26-year old lefty A.J. Murray. Murray has started 6 games in AAA ball so far this season and he was 2-0 with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Murray pitched in 14 games (2 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.

The Rangers decided that they have seen enough of Jason Botts for now. Botts played in 15 games this season for the Rangers and he was 6 for 38 (.158 avg, .699 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 2 homers and 5 RBIs. Botts also whiffed 18 times already this season which has likely led to the end of his career with the Rangers. Botts doesn’t make big money so the Rangers might be able to get something for him. The Rangers have recalled 25-year old switch hitting Brandon Boggs from AAA ball. The outfielder has played in 18 games in AAA this season and he was 21 of 68 (.309 avg, .824 OPS) with 12 runs scored and 6 RBIs.