Rangers purchase Mike Olt's contract

August, 1, 2012
8/01/12
11:44
PM CT
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers Double-A prospect Mike Olt is headed to the big leagues.

Olt, one of the club’s top minor league hitters and a player the club did not want to deal at the trade deadline, comes up to try to help give the offense a jolt. He takes the place of Brandon Snyder on the 25-man roster and goes on the 40-man for Colby Lewis, who is out for the season following surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his elbow and is now on the 60-day disabled list.

“We've been looking to strengthen the bench and put our best club out there,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “Listening to our people, we feel like Mike can help with this team. We wanted to give Mike a chance. We feel like he's earned it, and both our scouts and developmental staff all have recommended that this guy in a role can help [manager Ron] Washington and the club."

The infielder will arrive after the Rangers had one of their most dramatic wins of the season, showing plenty of life with the bats in making a big comeback in an 11-10 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.

Olt, who turns 24 later this month, is hitting .287 with 27 homers and 81 RBIs for Double-A Frisco. He has a .973 OPS and is considered one of the top defensive third basemen in the game. Olt has played a few games in right field and at first base, although he’s primarily been at third.

He gives Washington a right-handed bat, deepening the bench.

“He’s a great kid,” Michael Young said. “We saw him a lot in spring training. We’re excited to have him. He’ll be in a position where he can help us out, hopefully have some good at-bats and get his feet wet in the big leagues. We’re looking forward to getting him here.”
Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.

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TEAM LEADERS

BA LEADER
Ian Kinsler
BA HR RBI R
.302 7 20 24
OTHER LEADERS
HRN. Cruz 11
RBIN. Cruz 33
RE. Andrus 27
OPSM. Moreland .921
WY. Darvish 7
ERAD. Holland 2.93
SOY. Darvish 86

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