Tom Wilhelmsen recalled, Hanser Alberto optioned

The Texas Rangers have recalled reliever Tom Wilhelmsen from AAA Round Rock, and have optioned utility infielder Hanser Alberto to AAA, according to John Blake on Twitter.  With Rougned Odor being reinstated after his suspension, this gives the Rangers a three man bench and an eight man bullpen.

Wilhelmsen was optioned last month after putting up a 9.98 ERA in 15.1 IP over 17 games, including as many home runs as strikeouts (6 apiece), with 8 walks.  The 31 year old appeared in 5 games for the Express, throwing 8 innings, striking out 5, walking 1 and allowing 1 run, on a home run.  Wilhelmsen will, I suspect, get an opportunity to be a middle relief option for the Rangers, as Jeff Banister continues to look for pitchers he trusts to bring into the game when the Rangers are ahead.

Alberto, meanwhile, gets sent down after putting up a .162/.162/.162 slash line over 39 plate appearances in the first two months of the year.  Alberto being sent down means that Jurickson Profar will be the utility infielder, although Ryan Rua can also play second base and third base.