The Texas Rangers recalled utility man Ezequiel Duran from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, one day after outfielder Kevin Pillar went on the injured list.
Duran, 25, did not have a hit in his first 15 plate appearances with the Rangers earlier this season before he was sent down after seven games. He found his swing at Round Rock, batting .345 with a 1.063 OPS and four home runs in 14 games.
Pillar, 36, went on the IL with lower back inflammation. He was the team’s Opening Day center fielder but appeared in just two of the Rangers’ seven games before the IL move was made.
Pillar is batting .237 with two doubles and one RBI in 18 games. He is a career .255 hitter with 114 homers and 469 RBIs in 1,232 games with 10 teams across 13 seasons. He spent his first six-plus seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.
