Texas Rangers Purchase Contract Of 1B/3B Mike Olt From Double-A Frisco
By: Texas Rangers Press Release
Updated: August 2, 2012
Arlington, Texas -
The Texas Rangers formally announced today that the club has purchased
the contract of first baseman/third baseman Mike Olt
(#9) from Double-A Frisco. To make room on the active 25-man roster for
Olt, the club has optioned infielder/outfielder Brandon Snyder to
Triple-A Round Rock. To make room on the 40-man roster for Olt, the
team has transferred right-handed pitcher Colby Lewis
from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list.
Olt,
23, will be looking to make his major league debut in tonight's series
finale with the Angels in Arlington. He batted .288 (102-354) with 17
doubles,
a triple, 28 home runs, and 82 RBI over 95 games with Double-A Frisco.
The Connecticut native leads all Double-A players in home runs and OPS
(.977), while the home run figure ranks T2nd among all minor league
players. The 6-for-2, 210-pound Olt also ranks
among the statistical leaders in nearly every offense category in the
Texas League, including home runs (1st, 28), SLG (1st, .579), RBI (2nd,
82), total bases (3rd, 205), walks (5th, 61), OBP (6th, .398), and
batting (11th, .288). He is batting .293 (12-41)
with 6 walks, 3 doubles, 3 home runs, and 12 RBI over his last 11
games. His 19 RBI since July 17 lead all Double-A players.
Olt
has played primarily third base, also seeing action at first base and
in right field. He was a mid-season Texas League All-Star and played
for the
U.S. squad in the Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City during
All-Star Weekend. Olt was named Rangers Minor League Player of the
Month in both May and June this season. He was selected out of the
University of Connecticut in the supplemental first
round (49th overall) of the 2010 June draft and signed by Jay Heafner,
who is now the Rangers area scout in Southern Texas and Louisiana.
Snyder
has been on the Rangers 25-man roster for the entire season, batting
.281 (18-64) with 3 home runs, 2 doubles, and 9 RBI in 38 games. He has
seen action at 5 different positions, as well as designated hitter, for
Texas in 2012.
Lewis
was placed on the disabled list July 23 (retroactive to July 19) and
underwent season-ending surgery on Friday to repair a torn flexor tendon
in
his right elbow.
With these moves, the Rangers still have a full 40-man roster.
