Ruggiano squeezed off Rangers’ roster as Griffin added

Outfielder Justin Ruggiano, signed as a free agent in the off-season to fill a key role against left-handed pitching, was designated for assignment Friday by the Texas Rangers as they cleared spots on the 25- and 40-man rosters for right-hander A.J. Griffin.

The Rangers have 10 days to trade, release or push Ruggiano through waivers. He has the right to refuse an outright assignment to the minors if he clears, but would forfeit his minor league salary if he were to do so.

Manager Jeff Banister said that it was a tough call to DFA Ruggiano, but he wasn’t as versatile as others on the bench and the Rangers wanted to keep long man Phil Klein wih the bullpen thin after a heavy early workload.

“We love everything that Justin Ruggiano brings,” Banister said. “It was an extremely tough decision for all of us.”

Ruggiano collected an RBI double Wednesday in his lone game early on this season. He was going to serve as the right-handed option in a left-field platoon with Josh Hamilton, but those plans changed when the Rangers signed Ian Desmond to play left full time.

Ruggiano attempted to learn first base in spring training, but Ryan Rua proved to be a better player there, can play other infield spots in a pinch, and had a better spring at the plate.

“He won a spot on the club and we need to honor those performances as well,” Banister said.

The Rangers purchased Griffin’s minor league contract from Triple A Round Rock so that he could start Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels. Banister suggested that the Rangers could stick with an eight-man bullpen because of the versatility of Rua and infielder Hanser Alberto.

Beltre wows

On the night Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons was honored as the game’s top defensive player in 2015, Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre showed that he’s still elite with the glove.

Beltre took away three hits Thursday from Angels hitters and started an eighth-inning double play that completed the Rangers’ escape from a bases-loaded no-outs jam.

“About as good as a third baseman can be,” Banister said.

Derek Holland benefited from two diving Beltre stops. The left side of the infield gets plenty of action with a left-hander on the mound, and Holland said that he’s confident each time a ball goes Beltre’s way.

“He’s a Gold Glover for a reason,” Holland said. “He’s going to get a lot of action. He knows how I pitch. He’s always prepared, and the best part is I know he’s there to make the plays.”

Getting close

Banister said that leadoff hitter Delino DeShields and second baseman Rougned Odor are close to busting out of their season-opening slumps because they haven’t strayed from their approaches.

DeShields entered Friday 0 for 9 but had reached four times. Odor was 1 for 14, but Banister likes the way he has been hitting to the opposite field rather than pulling the ball on the ground.

“It was something I worked on all spring, hitting the ball to the opposite field,” Odor said. “I feel good.”

Odor hit a two-run homer in the third inning Friday night.

The Rangers’ offense was 29th out of the 30 teams in batting average at .156 and had struck out 40 times in four games. Banister said that it’s too early to worry because the at-bats have been better than during last season’s disastrous April.

“We’re still having quality at-bats,” Banister said. “We haven’t had the desired results, obviously.”

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 9:46 PM with the headline "Ruggiano squeezed off Rangers’ roster as Griffin added."