HOUSTON -- The old baseball adage is that you can't tell the players without a program. For the Texas Rangers, there may be a little truth to it, as Ryan Rua will become the team's 59th player this season, tying a major league record.
Rua, a rookie first baseman/outfielder, was promoted when outfielder Jim Adduci was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list. Rua is scheduled to play in Friday night's game against the Houston Astros.
The San Diego Padres twice used 59 players in a season (2002 and 2008), while the Cleveland Indians did it in 2002.
The Rangers will likely break the record, as left-handed starter Derek Holland, who has been out the entire season while recovering from knee surgery, is close to coming off the disabled list.
Major league teams also conduct their September call-ups next week.
Adduci hit his head on the warning track and against the wall while making a sliding catch in the fourth inning of Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Astros.
To make room for Rua, the Rangers released right-handed reliever Phil Irwin.
Rua went 4-for-5 with four RBIs for Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday. He was hitting .405 with eight RBIs over the last nine games.
