CHICAGO (AP) — Ruben Sierra is back in the majors for the first time since 1998.
The Texas Rangers called the veteran outfielder up Tuesday, allowing him to rejoin the team he broke in with in 1986.
“I want to thank God and the Rangers for giving me the opportunity to be here,” Sierra said before Tuesday night’s game against the White Sox.
Sierra got his first major league at-bat since he was with the White Sox in 1998 when he flied out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning of the Rangers’ 2-1 victory over Chicago.
Sierra, 34, also has played with Oakland, the New York Yankees, Detroit, Cincinnati, Toronto and the White Sox. He spent 1999 with Atlantic City in the independent Atlantic League, hitting .294 with 28 homers and 82 RBIs in 112 games.
Sierra was invited to the Indians’ spring training camp but was released in late March. He began 2000 with Cancun in the Triple-A Mexican League, hitting .355 in 16 games.
Then he joined Oklahoma of the Pacific Coast League, the Rangers’ Triple-A farm club, where he batted .326 with 18 homers and 82 RBIs in 112 games.
“I know in my heart I can still play. I still have years left. I can still run,” Sierra said. “Any way I can help the team I will be ready.”
His last major league action before Tuesday came with the White Sox in 1998 when he hit .216 with four homer sand 11 RBIs in 27 games.
A four-time Rangers’ player of the year, Sierra is a .269 career hitter with 239 homers and 1,047 RBIs in 1,662 major league games.
Texas also called up right-hander Darwin Cubillan, infielder Kelly Dransfeldt and catcher Randy Knorr from Oklahoma City. They transferred left-hander Mike Munoz from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.