Julio

Borbon

Borbon, 33, played in independent ball and the Mexican League the last two years. He batted .273/.318/.347 across 878 major league plate appearances over parts of five seasons.

Borbon has taken batting practice and shagged fly balls with the Rangers of late and is ready to face some live pitching in preparation of playing winter ball. He’s coming back from ankle ligament surgery in July. “Everything has felt real good,” Borbon said.

Borbon gets the boot after batting .250 (12-for-48) with one home run, four RBI, three stolen bases and seven walks this spring. He’s expected to share playing time in center field with Leonys Martin in the minors. As for the big club, Josh Hamilton should get plenty of playing time in center field with David Murphy and Craig Gentry forming a platoon in left.

The Rangers have wanted to move Hamilton to a corner outfield spot permanently for a couple years now in order to save his legs, and they came to camp with Craig Gentry, Julio Borbon and Leonys Martin competing for the center field job. But, none of them took advantage, so Hamilton will man center for the time being, with David Murphy and Gentry likely to form a platoon in left field. Hamilton is currently nursing a minor groin injury but is expected to be fine.

No word on the exact nature of the injury, but Gentry has dealt with shoulder and wrist injuries in the past. Julio Borbon could have a clear path to the starting center field job if he is forced to miss an extended period of time.

Gentry suffered a mild left wrist sprain while attempting to make a diving catch during Tuesday’s game against the Indians. His absence could giving Julio Borbon the edge for the starting center field job.

Borbon’s offensive struggles seem to follow him wherever he goes. He’s opened the past two seasons as Texas’ starting center fielder, but he’ll have to fight for that job in camp this spring with Craig Gentry and Leonys Martin. Borbon hit .270/.305/.348 in MLB last season.

Borbon wrote on Twitter: “Lil’ sore from the slight twist, nothing serious or that I can’t tolerate.” He’s currently playing in the Dominican Republic winter-league playoffs. Borbon didn’t specify which of his ankles was sore, but we would speculate it’s his left. Borbon underwent surgery in July to repair ligaments in his left ankle and missed the rest of the season. Borbon has been struggling lately, batting just .231 with a .257 on-base percentage over 74 plate appearances in the playoffs. Borbon is a candidate for the Opening Day center fielder job in Texas, a position he has earned the last two years, so the Rangers hope this complication is minor.

Borbon hasn’t been playing enough to warrant an update over the past month (he’s logged more than two at-bats in a game just twice since the Cubs claimed him off waivers from the Rangers on April 19). If he can secure some playing time over the summer, Borbon will be useful in NL-only formats in the batting average and steals departments. Chicago has displayed no willingness to exercise their atrophying 27-year-old outfielder, however.

He also took batting practice. Borbon would like to return to the Rangers late this season, but it’s unlikely to happen. He’ll play winter ball in the Dominican Republic over the offseason before hopefully entering spring training at 100 percent.