Rangers add INF Derek Dietrich and LHP Wes Benjamin to active roster; option RHP Jimmy Herget and INF Anderson Tejeda 

Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers announced the following roster moves prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners:

· Infielder Derek Dietrich (#32) signed to a Major League contract and added to active roster.

· Left-handed pitcher Wes Benjamin (#75) selected from Alternate Training Site.

· Right-handed pitcher Jimmy Herget and infielder Anderson Tejeda optioned to Alternate Training Site.

· First baseman Greg Bird activated from 10-day Injured List and designated for assignment.

· Right-handed pitcher Luke Farrell placed on Injured List (does not count against 40-man roster)

Dietrich (pronounced DEE-trik), 31, joined the Rangers when he signed a minor league contract on Monday. He was released by the Chicago Cubs on August 8 after signing with the club and joining its Alternate Training Site on July 23. He spent the bulk of the year in the Cincinnati organization, but saw limited action in Summer Camp before he was released by the Reds on July 20 near the start of the regular season. He did not play with the Reds in any exhibition contests, but appeared in 10 games with Cincinnati prior to the shutdown in March.

The left-handed batter has hit .246 with 79 home runs and 247 RBI over 721 career Major League games with Miami (2013-2018) and Cincinnati (2019). He hit a career-high 19 home runs in 113 games for the Reds last season. Dietrich has appeared primarily at second base in the Majors while also seeing time at first base, third base, and left field.

Benjamin, 27, will be seeking his Major League debut in tonight’s game against the Mariners. One of the club’s final cuts when the Rangers set the Opening Day roster on July 23, Benjamin posted 6.2 scoreless innings over 4 appearances in Summer Camp with 3 walks against 9 strikeouts. He last pitched in a game on Wednesday with the Alternate Site group, recording 3.0 innings. He spent the 2019 campaign with Triple-A Nashville, going 7-6 with a 5.52 ERA and a team-leading 114 strikeouts. The University of Kansas product was originally selected by Texas in the fifth round of the 2014 June draft.

Herget has allowed 5 runs in 4.1 innings over 5 relief appearances with Texas since he was selected from the Alternate Training Site on July 31. Tejeda went 2-for-7 with a home run and 3 RBI over 3 games with Texas in his first Major League action after being recalled on August 2.

Bird was selected from the Alternate Training Site on July 31 but never appeared in a game before going on the 10-day IL on August 4, retroactive to August 1, with a right calf strain. Farrell allowed 5 runs over 3 games/3.1 innings with Texas before he was optioned to the Alternate Training Site on August 5.

After today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the Major League roster.