3B Has Played With Texas Past Two Seasons

CHICAGO, IL - The Kansas City Royals today announced they have claimed third baseman Travis Metcalf off outright waivers from the Texas Rangers. Metcalf was placed on the Royals 40-man roster and optioned to Triple-A Omaha. With the addition, the Kansas City Royals currently have 37 players on their 40-man roster.

Metcalf, 26, has seen time at the big league level with the Rangers each of the past two seasons, hitting a combined .249 (54-for-217) with 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 35 RBI in 80 games. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-handed hitter is a career .258 hitter with 57 home runs and 270 RBI in 469 minor league games.

He was selected in the 11th round of the 2004 draft out of the University of Kansas where he ended his career as the Jayhawks' all-time home run leader with 29. The Wamego, Kansas resident hit a single-season Kansas record 18 home runs in 2004.

To make room for Metcalf on Omaha's roster, third baseman Corey Smith was sent to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.