Isiah Kiner-Falefa activated, optioned to AA by Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers transactions: Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been activated from the 10 day injured list and optioned to AA Frisco, the Rangers announced today. The catcher/infielder was on the final day of a rehab assignment, and has been playing at Frisco the past couple of weeks.

Kiner-Falefa landed on the injured list with a jammed finger last month, forcing the Rangers to scramble to acquire Tim Federowicz to join the team as the backup. The Rangers indicated he would stay on the rehab assignment for a while, in order to allow him to get regular at bats. He will reportedly also play some third base while with Frisco.

Kiner-Falefa was a revelation last season, playing infield early in the year then working as the backup catcher, and put up a 682 OPS. He has only been catching this year, however, and the 24 year old has regressed offensively, putting up a 651 OPS while grading out poorly behind the plate in the advanced defensive metrics.