PCL1 Round Rock Express

Rangers Acquire Uehara and Cash from Baltimore for Davis and Hunter

Published on July 30, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


Toronto, Ont. - The Texas Rangers announced tonight that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Koji Uehara and cash considerations from Baltimore in exchange for infielder Chris Davis and right-handed pitcher Tommy Hunter.

Uehara, 36, has gone 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA (9 ER/47.0 IP) over 43 relief appearances for Baltimore this season, allowing just 8 walks against 62 strikeouts. Opposing batters have hit just .152 with 9 home runs against Uehara in 2011. He has 13 holds and 19 games finished. Over his last 13 outings, Uehara has tossed 15.0 scoreless innings with 2 walks and 23 strikeouts, as opponents have gone just 5-for-50 (.100) in that span with 2 extra-base hits (both doubles). He has at least one strikeout in 16 straight games and in 38 of 43 contests this season. He last pitched on Friday at New York-AL, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning.

Entering today's games, Uehara ranked among American League relief leaders in opponents average (1st, .152), opponents slugging pct. (1st, .191), strikeouts (2nd, 62), and ERA (6th, 1.72). His 7.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio is the best among A.L. relievers, 2nd-best in the majors behind San Francisco's Sergio Romo (12.75). Uehara has compiled a 0.702 WHIP figure (walks + hits / innings), the lowest figure in the major leagues among pitchers with at least 40.0 innings this season.

Over three seasons in the major leagues, Uehara has compiled a career record of 4-7 with a 3.03 ERA (53 ER/157.2 IP) in 98 games/12 starts. He was 2-4 with a 4.05 ERA over 12 games/starts in his big league debut with Baltimore in 2009, but has pitched exclusively in relief the last two seasons. In the two seasons as a reliever in 2010-11, he has compiled a 2.27 ERA (6th-lowest in A.L.) and .187 opponents average (2nd-lowest in A.L.).

Uehara pitched for the Yomiuri Giants in the Japanese Central League from 1999-2008, primarily as a starter. He had a career record of 112-62 with a 3.01 ERA over 276 games/207 starts in Japan, posting 56 complete games, 9 shutouts, and 33 saves.

Davis has batted .250 with 3 home runs and 6 RBI in 27 games with Texas this season over three different stints (April 13-May 22, June 8-10, and July 23-today's game). He has spent the rest of the campaign at Round Rock (AAA), batting .368 (71-193) with 24 home runs and 66 RBI in 48 games for the Express. Davis was originally selected by Texas in the 5th round of the 2006 June draft.

Hunter has gone 1-1 with a 2.93 ERA (5 ER/15.1 IP) in 8 relief appearances for Texas since being activated from the disabled list on July 1. He opened the season on the 15-day disabled list with a right groin strain suffered in a spring training outing on March 24. Hunter was originally selected by Texas in the supplemental first round (54th overall) of the 2007 June draft.

With these moves, the Rangers now have 39 players on the club's 40-man roster.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 30, 2011


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