PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA (TICKER) — The Texas Rangers today signed free agent infielder Rafael Bournigal to a minor league contract, two days after he was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Bournigal, who spent the last three seasons with Oakland, hit just .158 (3-for-19) in 10 games with the Pirates this spring after signing a minor league deal in January.
The 32-year-old homered in a Triple-A game this morning and is in the dugout for today’s exhibition contest against Boston. He will accompany the team to Texas this weekend when final roster cuts are made.
Bournigal, who can play shortstop or second base, is a career .249 hitter with two home runs and 71 RBI in 310 games with Los Angeles and Oakland. Last season, he hit .225 (47-for-209) with one homer, 19 RBI and six stolen bases in 85 games.
(From the ESPN Rangers Page): The Rangers signed free-agent infielder Rafael Bournigal to a minor-league contract with the Oklahoma Redhawks of the Pacific Coast League. The team also announced Tuesday it was bringing Bournigal to major league spring training as a non-roster invitee. Bournigal, 32, spent the past three seasons with the Athletics. Last season, he batted .225 with one homer and 19 RBIs in 85 games. He also did not make an error in 279 chances at shortstop and second base.