Rangers designate RHP Neftali Feliz for assignment

The Texas Rangers designated righthander Neftali Feliz for assignment after Saturday’s 8–2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

The Texas Rangers designated righthander Neftali Feliz for assignment after Saturday’s 8–2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

The move makes room for lefthander Matt Harrison, whom the Rangers will activate from the 60-day disabled list on Saturday.

Feliz, 27, was the 2010 American League Rookie of the Year and broke into the majors the year before as a hard-throwing right hander. In that career season in 2010, he was an All-Star while saving 40 games and posting a 2.73 ERA as the Rangers’ closer.

Feliz pitched two scoreless innings in Friday’s loss, his first appearance since May 19. He was reinstated from the disabled list on Thursday after missing more than a month with an abscess on his right side that required a minor procedure before the subsequent DL stint and rehab assignment.

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In 17 appearances this season, Feliz was 1–2 with a 5.09 ERA, 15 strikeouts and nine walks.

Feliz was on the mound for one of the greatest moments in Rangers history, striking out the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez to end the 2010 ALCS and send Texas to its first World Series.

Feliz also was at the center of one of the Rangers’ lowest moments, when he gave up a game-tying triple to the St. Louis Cardinals’ David Freese in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. In 2012, he was converted to a starter but ended up having Tommy John surgery that August and did not return until late in the 2013 season.

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Rangers general manager Jon Daniels acknowledged Feliz’s history with the team while discussing Saturday’s move.

“A tough call, mostly in the fact that Neftali has been on the mound for probably the greatest moments in franchise history,” Daniels said, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Harrison, a 2012 All-Star, began the season on the 60-disabled list after spinal fusion surgery. Last season, he appeared in four games for the Rangers, allowing eight runs over 17 1/3 innings.

- Mike Fiammetta