Texas Rangers Catcher Mitch Garver Begins Injury Rehab

Texas Rangers catcher Mitch Garver began his injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, going 2-for-4.

Garver and the Express are in Albuquerque for a week-long series with the Isotopes. Garver played his college baseball for the University of New Mexico before the Minnesota Twins drafted him in 2013.

The Isotopes won the game 13-4. Garver is one of two Rangers on rehab assignments with the Express. The other is outfielder Travis Jankowski.

Garver started as the designated hitter Tuesday and he is expected to DH again Wednesday before catching for five innings Thursday.

He hit a double and scored two runs in four official at-bats from the No. 2 spot. Those were his first official at-bats in more than a month.

Garver’s workload once he’s activated remains to be determined, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said last week. One thing benefiting the Rangers is that they have an off-day on Thursday each of the next three weeks.

Garver was moved to the 10-day injured list on April 10 with a mild left knee sprain. He has been working out regularly the past couple of weeks and Rangers general manager Chris Young said on Monday that he was making progress.

Garver was batting .263 with two home runs and six RBI at the time of the injury. Since then the Rangers have used Sandy León as the primary backup to Jonah Heim.

The Rangers traded for Garver, a former 30-home run hitter, last offseason and he missed the majority of the season with a right flexor tendon injury, which required surgery. He returned and ramped up well during Spring Training, getting back behind the plate and serving as a designated hitter. He made the Opening Day roster.

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