Rangers Purchase Contract of 1B Kyle Blanks
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Texas Rangers have purchased the contract of Round Rock Express 1B Kyle Blanks the club announced Wednesday afternoon. Blanks will be in uniform for the Rangers series finale against the Seattle Mariners, seeking to make his Texas debut.
Blanks, 28, was batting .327 (17-52) with three HRs and 11 RBIs in 16 games with the Express. After starting the season 0-for-12, Blanks found his rhythm and went 17-for-40 (.425) over the last 12 games. He's recorded multiple hits in four games, including a 4-for-5 performance against Memphis that led to his being named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for the week ending April 26.
Blanks has seen major league action in each of the last six seasons, spending 2009-14 in the San Diego Padres organization before being traded to the Oakland Athletics on May 28, 2014. He has a .234 career average (178-760) with 30 HRs, 105 RBIs and 37 doubles over 260 major league games.
Originally drafted by the Padres in the 42nd round of the 2004 June Draft, Blanks was signed by the Rangers as a minor league free agent on December 19, 2014.
To make room for Blanks on the 40-man roster, the Rangers designated Express OF Alex Hassan for assignment. The team has 10 days to trade, release or outright Hassan to the minor leagues.
The Express enjoy a league-wide off-day Wednesday before opening a four-game series against the Nashville Sounds at Dell Diamond Thursday, April 30.
For tickets and more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!