Mitch Garver Catches for First Time on Texas Rangers Rehab Stint

Mitch Garver took his first reps behind the plate since suffering a knee sprain in mid-April with the Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers catcher Mitch Garver took the next steps in his injury rehab assignment with the Triple-A Round Rock Express on Friday night.

Garver batted leadoff and started at catcher for the first time since his injury. Garver hit second and was the designated hitter in games on Tuesday and Wednesday before getting Thursday off.

Travis Jankowski, also on a rehab stint, had the night off and getting three hits Thursday.

Garver was expected to take reps at catcher after getting his feet wet at DH. He went 4-for-8 in those first two games, which included a home run.

On Friday he went 0-for-1 with two walks in three plate appearances. In the bottom of the sixth, after drawing a walk, he left the game as planned and was replaced behind the plate by Jordan Procyshen.

Garver and the Express are in Albuquerque for a week-long series with the Isotopes. Garver played his college baseball for the University of New Mexico before the Minnesota Twins drafted him in 2013.

Garver’s workload once he’s activated remains to be determined, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said last week. One thing benefiting the Rangers is they several off days built into the schedule over the new few weeks.

The Rangers also appear to be in no hurry to activate Garver. With the veteran having been on the shelf for more than a month, the team likely wants to make sure he’s absolutely right before he’s recalled.

For now, Sandy Leon is the backup to Jonah Heim. Leon started Friday's 12-2 win at the Baltimore Orioles with Heim getting a scheduled day off. 

Garver was moved to the 10-day injured list on April 10 with a mild left knee sprain. Garver was batting .263 with two home runs and six RBI at the time of the injury.

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