Rangers Purchase Contract of 1B/3B Mike Olt
August 2, 2012 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
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.
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