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NEWSFLASH: Francisco Recalled; Nippert To 15-Day DL

Welcome back, FX².

Multiple local media sources, including Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, are reporting that the Texas Rangers have placed right-hander Dustin Nippert (sore right foot) on the 15-day disabled list, and have simultaneously recalled right-hander Frankie Francisco from Triple-A Oklahoma.

Francisco, 28, has been an unstoppable machine in eight relief appearances for the RedHawks thus far this season, surrendering no runs while sparsely scattering three hits and three walks over nine superb innings of work. He has also collected an nigh-incomprehensible total of 16 strikeouts in those nine innings, and has been perfect as Oklahoma’s closer, locking down five saves in as many opportunities.

Left-handed batters have accounted for all three of the hits accumulated against Francisco; right-handed batters, comparatively, have drawn all three walks, but have yet to notch a hit in 18 attempts, fanning 12 times in the process.

I think it’s safe to say that Frankie has put his considerable spring struggles behind him.

Nippert, who turned 26 exactly one fortnight ago, tossed 68 pitches during Monday’s disastrous series finale against the Boston Red Sox. Proving yet again that jaw-dropping velocity isn’t everything, Dustin allowed eight runs to score on nine hits and four walks during 2.1 horrific innings of work. He probably wouldn’t have been available to pitch again until at least Thursday, which marks the final day of the Rangers’ nine-game road trip.

With southpaw Eddie Guardado’s return to the active roster seemingly imminent, and with Nippert securely stashed away on the disabled list, it seems most probable that the Rangers will choose to option struggling right-hander Josh Rupe back to Triple-A Oklahoma once Guardado is ready for activation from the 15-day disabled list.

One final miscellaneous note: Evan Grant also reports this afternoon that High-A Bakersfield pitching prospect Omar Poveda has indeed been placed on the seven-day disabled list with right arm fatigue, which, despite being labeled by the organization as merely a precautionary move, does raise a few red flags in the back of my mind.

Stay tuned.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm and is filed under NEWSFLASH, The Season. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.