The Texas Rangers reinstated right fielder Adolis García from the 10-day injured list and immediately placed him in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game against the Mets. To clear a roster spot, the club optioned outfielder Dustin Harris to Triple-A Round Rock.
“It feels great to be back, especially with so many important games ahead,” García said before the game.
In his return, García went 0-for-4 at the plate but contributed defensively, recording three putouts, including a sliding catch on a Pete Alonso liner in the seventh inning. “That was really just good positioning from [third-base coach] Tony Beasley, and I was able to make the play,” he explained.
The 31-year-old slugger had been sidelined for 10 games with a right quad strain. The Rangers initially anticipated a longer absence, but after taking live batting practice Saturday at Citi Field, García assured manager Bruce Bochy and the training staff he was ready. “I honestly thought it would be at least another week,” Bochy admitted. “But he progressed quickly, checked every box, and said he was good to go.”
Although García admitted he ran the bases cautiously at times, he emphasized that most of it was mental. “Sometimes it’s still in my head because of the injury, but I try to push past it,” he said.
Before going down, García had been one of Texas’ hottest bats, hitting .375 (12-for-32) with a homer and seven RBIs over his previous seven games. Bochy praised his impact: “He was swinging really well when he got hurt. He’s a key defender and an anchor in the middle of our lineup. It’s great to have him back.”
Meanwhile, Harris returns to Round Rock after batting .200 (8-for-40) with a home run and two RBIs for Texas this year. His highlight came on Sept. 5, when his walk-off double lifted the Rangers to a 4-3 win over the Astros at Globe Life Field.
