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Texas Ranger outfielder Jim Adduci is starting a rehab assignment with Frisco today, and relief pitcher Daniel Bard is joining the Hickory Crawdads, according to John Blake on Twitter.
Adduci has been on the disabled list since mid-April with a broken little finger. One would expect he will be activated in the next four to seven days. According to the beat writers on Twitter, Ron Washington is working with Adduci at first base even as I'm typing this. Texas doesn't really have a backup first baseman on the 25 man roster right now, so getting Adduci acclimated to the position would help give them some additional versatility when he returns.
From a long-term perspective, Daniel Bard being activated and joining a minor league team could have a bigger impact than Adduci getting healthy. Bard was a quality relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox before his career went south in 2012, putting up a 2.88 ERA in 197 relief innings from 2009-11. The former first round draft pick underwent surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome this offseason, and he has less than six years of service time, so the Rangers would have the ability to keep him as an arbitration-eligible player beyond 2014 if they like what they see from him this season.
I would presume that, once Bard gets a few appearances under his belt, the plan is for him to join AA Frisco or AAA Round Rock.
