SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Outfielder Michael Choice, in a 1-for-16 spring training slump, has been optioned to Triple-A Round Rock by the Texas Rangers.
Choice, selected by Oakland with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft, hit .369 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 28 spring training games last year, then batted .182 with nine homers in 84 games during the season. The Rangers acquired Choice in a four-player trade after the 2013 season.
Texas released left-hander Michael Kirkman from a minor league contract Tuesday. Kirkman pitched only 5 2/3 innings in the majors last season because of shoulder and triceps injuries. He was 2-6 with a 4.98 ERA in 94 relief appearances over parts of five seasons with the Rangers.
The Rangers optioned right-handers Jerad Eickhoff and Luke Jackson to Triple-A Round Rock and assigned right-handers Alec Asher, left-hander Martire Garcia and catcher Pat Cantwell to their minor league camp.
