Garver is expected to catch back-to-back games this week for first time this spring, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Garver is slowly ramping up his time behind the plate. He played seven innings in a game last week, then a full nine two days later. He also thwarted a stolen-base attempt apiece in each game, which is more outs than he had in the limited time he caught in 2022. "I was pretty excited," Garver said. "I got into a good position. I made a good throw. It felt good. It has felt good all spring." Despite the promising results, Garver is expected to get fewer starts at catcher than Jonah Heim, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. That's partially due to Garver coming off forearm surgery, but Heim possesses a quicker release, stronger arm and quicker pop time, skills that will be handy for an expected increase in attempted steals in 2023. When not behind the plate, Garver is expected to rotate in at designated hitter.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Catches deGrom
Rotowire
Garver started at catcher and went 0-for-4 in Sunday's spring game against Seattle.
Garver, who missed half the 2022 season due to a forearm injury, caught all nine innings for the first time this spring. For those into reading signs, that Garver was behind the plate for Jacob deGrom's Cactus League debut indicates he will resume playing catcher for Texas after last season's injury limited him to DH duties.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Starts behind plate
Rotowire
Garver started at catcher and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's spring game against the Reds.
Garver caught his first game since May 8 after a forearm injury limited him to designated hitter duty in 2022 before he underwent season-ending surgery in July. He sat behind the plate for three innings for starter Martin Perez. Healthy now, Garver will go back to catching, at least part time, and will also serve as DH while Jonah Heim catches.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Looks healthy for spring
Rotowire
Garver (forearm) took batting practice Monday and appears to be healthy for spring training, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
Garver, who agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal in January to avoid arbitration, is back in Texas for a second season. After heading into Opening Day last season as the Rangers' top backstop, Garver ended up making just 14 starts behind the plate before a right flexor sprain limited him strictly to designated-hitter duties until he underwent season-ending surgery on his forearm shortly before the All-Star break. Though his ability to take batting practice at the start of spring training suggests he's at or close to 100 percent, Garver may have to settle for more of a part-time role at catcher and DH in 2023. Even before having forearm surgery, Garver graded out poorly behind the plate. Jonah Heim, meanwhile, is a superior defensive option who also showed some pop and decent bat-to-ball skills while serving as Texas' primary backstop last season. The righty-hitting Garver thus looks like a better candidate for a short-side platoon gig at catcher or DH.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Heads to 60-day IL after surgery
Rotowire
The Rangers placed Garver (forearm) on the 60-day injured list Monday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Garver's move to the IL was an expected development after he underwent season-ending surgery earlier Monday to address a right forearm injury that had lingered since early May. He'll conclude his first season in Texas with a .207 average, 10 home runs, one stolen base, 24 RBI and 23 runs across 215 plate appearances. Now that Garver is out of the mix, expect the Rangers to take a platoon approach to the designated hitter spot, with the lefty-hitting Brad Miller likely to get most of the initial opportunities.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Gets forearm surgery
Rotowire
Garver's wife, Sarah, confirmed via her personal Instagram account that her husband underwent successful surgery Monday to repair the flexor tendon of his right forearm.
Even though Garver and the team came to the mutual decision a few days ago that he would get season-ending surgery to address an injury that has lingered since early May, the 31-year-old was allowed to play in the Rangers' weekend series against the Twins, his former team. Garver went 0-for-3 with a walk in Sunday's 6-5 loss and will end the season with a .207/.298/.404 slash line to go with 10 home runs, one stolen base, 24 RBI and 23 runs across 215 plate appearances. He had been limited strictly to serving as a designated hitter since returning May 19 from his initial stint on the injured list, but he should be fully ready to resume catching duties by next spring. Expect the Rangers to formally place Garver on the 10-day IL or 60-day IL in advance of Monday's game against the Athletics.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Set for final start of 2022
Rotowire
Garver will serve as the Rangers' designated hitter and No. 7 hitter in Sunday's game against the Twins.
Garver will be making what's expected to be his 45th and final start of the season Sunday, as he's scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery Monday to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm. The injury has prevented Garver from catching since May 8 and has seemingly compromised him at the plate while he's served exclusively as a DH ever since. Since returning May 19 from his initial stint on the injured list, Garver has slashed .215/.303/.458 with seven home runs and a stolen base in 31 games. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues can feel comfortable dropping him after Sunday's game.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Homers again
Rotowire
Garver went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 10-9 extra-inning loss to the Orioles.
Garver was one of three Texas hitters to slug a home run over the final third of the game. His seventh-inning blast tied the game briefly. It was his second homer in as many games. Since the Rangers mentioned possible surgery on his damaged right forearm, Garver is raking with a .320/.370/.720 slash, three home runs, six RBI and six runs scored over seven contests. Surgery seems inevitable, but when it happens might be determined by how the team performs. If postseason prospects are real AND Garver maintains an impact bat, then it could be put off until the offseason. If neither of those scenarios are present in the second half of the season, it makes sense to have the surgery earlier and have Garver available for the start of 2023.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Delivers clutch homer
Rotowire
Garver went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Monday's loss to the Orioles.
Garver came through with his ninth home run of the season in the top of the fifth inning, belting a three-run blast to break a 2-2 tie. After homering in three straight games from May 22 to May 25, he's homered just three times since over 21 games. Garver is also struggling to a .211/.294/.409 slash line over 49 games in 2022.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Sitting Sunday
Rotowire
Garver is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Brad Miller will get a turn as the designated hitter against right-hander Carlos Carrasco. Garver is batting .250/.357/.417 with one home run in eight games since his return from the COVID-19-related injured list. He remains limited to DH duty due to a forearm injury that will eventually require surgery.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Not starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Garver will sit Tuesday against the Royals.
Garver finds himself on the bench for the second time in three games. He hasn't been able to catch since early May due to a forearm issue that is expected to eventually require surgery. The injury may also require an above-average number of off days even while he serves strictly as a designated hitter. Adolis Garcia will rest his legs and operate as the Rangers' DH on Tuesday.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Bops homer in win
Rotowire
Garver went 2-for-4 with a walk, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Monday's 10-4 win over the Royals.
The home run comes one day after Garver acknowledged the need for surgery to address a right forearm injury that has prevented him from catching since early May. Since then, he's served as the DH and batted .211. The Rangers mentioned having surgery during the season, which would wipe out the rest of 2022. That decision should come no later than the All-Star break. Jonah Heim has served as the primary catcher since early May and should continue to do so going forward.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Out Sunday, may need surgery
Rotowire
Garver, who is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals, said he'll eventually require surgery to address the forearm injury that has prevented him from catching since early May, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. "Surgery is only option for me to be player I want to be," Garver said.
Garver was initially placed on the injured list May 10 due to the flexor strain, but the Rangers chose to activate him when first eligible even though his injury limited him exclusively to designated-hitter duties. Aside from a week-and-a-half-long absence due to testing positive for COVID-19, Garver has served as the Rangers' primary DH since coming off the IL, but the forearm issue may be hindering him at the plate. Since Garver is slashing a wretched .201/.288/.383 on the campaign, surgery could become a more realistic option while the 31-year-old is providing no value on the field and limited value at the plate. Per Grant, the Rangers are expected to wait until no later than the All-Star break to make a decision on whether to send Garver in for season-ending surgery, so fantasy managers may want to get a head start on finding a potential replacement for him in their lineups. Until such a decision is made, Garver should still get the bulk of the starts at DH, though Kole Calhoun will handle those duties Sunday.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Garver started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a walk in Friday's 2-1 loss to Washington.
Garver was back in the lineup after getting a day off Wednesday. He returned from the COVID-19 related injured list Tuesday and presumably was given a rest day following an 11-day stint on the IL. He should be the primary DH going forward, as a flexor strain in his right arm prevents him from throwing or serving at catcher.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Takes seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Garver isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
Garver returned to the lineup Tuesday against Philadelphia and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Brad Miller is serving as the designated hitter and batting ninth Wednesday.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Returns from COVID-19 IL
Rotowire
The Rangers reinstated Garver (illness) from the COVID-19-related injured list Tuesday. He'll serve as Texas' designated hitter and No. 5 batter in the series opener against the Phillies.
Fellow backstop Sam Huff was sent to Triple-A Round Rock to clear room for Garver, who hasn't yet been cleared to resume catching while he works to regain full strength in his right elbow following a stint on the IL back in May. Until Garver's elbow isn't hindering him while he throws behind the plate, he's expected to start on a near-everyday basis as the Rangers' DH. He was sidelined for about a week and a half following a positive COVID-19 test, but Garver has since regained conditioning and looked good during his one-game rehab assignment at Round Rock over the weekend.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Beginning rehab stint
Rotowire
Garver (illness) reported to Double-A Frisco on Sunday to start a rehab assignment.
The 31-year-old landed on the COVID-19 injured list June 10, and he'll head to the minors for a quick rehab assignment before rejoining the Rangers. Garver should be back with the big-league club at some point this week.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Placed on COVID-19 injured list
Rotowire
Garver was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday.
The Rangers didn't specify whether Garver had tested positive himself, so it's unclear when he's expected to return to the lineup. He'd been serving as the primary designated hitter since returning from a knee injury in mid-May. The Rangers may simply rotate hitters though that spot in his absence.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Resting during afternoon game
Rotowire
Garver will sit for the first half of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Guardians.
Garver has had a near-everyday role as a designated hitter since he returned from an elbow strain in mid-May. Corey Seager will rest his legs in Game 1 in that spot, but Garver should get the chance to hit in the nightcap.
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Rangers' Mitch Garver: Hits two-run blast
Rotowire
Garver went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Mariners.
Garver stretched the Rangers' lead to 5-2 in the eighth inning, though reliever Matt Bush gave it all back in the ninth. Since returning from knee soreness May 30, Garver is 7-for-28 (.250) in seven contests. The 31-year-old has a .220/.295/.424 slash line with seven long balls, 16 RBI, 15 runs scored, a stolen base and six doubles in 149 plate appearances this year.
