The Rangers have acquired outfielder Joe Benson off waivers from the Twins. Here is the release…

The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has acquired outfielder Joe Benson on a waiver claim from the Minnesota Twins.  To make room on the 40-man roster for Benson, the club has transferred left-handed pitcher Matt Harrison from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list.

Benson, 25, has been optioned to Frisco (AA).  He has spent the season with Triple-A Rochester, batting .192 with one home run and 9 RBI in 42 games.  Originally selected by the Twins in the second round of the 2006 June draft, his only major league action came in 2011, when he batted .239 with 6 doubles, a triple, and no home runs over 21 games with Minnesota.  He was rated one of the game’s top 100 prospects by Baseball America prior to the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Harrison was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 11, retroactive to April 7, with an inflamed nerve in his lower back.  The club’s Opening Day starter has since had a pair of surgeries on the back.  The first date he would be eligible to return is now June 6.

With these moves, the Rangers still have a full 40-man roster.

Colby Lewis threw in the bullpen on Thursday without any problems. He will start on Saturday for Round Rock against Memphis and throw approximately 60 pitches over four innings. That will be ten months since he underwent surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow. He will likely need at least three more starts before he is an option at the Major League level. Alexi Ogando, who is on the disabled list with tricepts tendinitis, will likely throw in the bullpen on Sunday or Monday.

The Rangers placed RHP Derek Lowe on unconditional release waivers and signed infielder Mark Teahen to a minor league contract Thursday.

Lowe was designated for assignement on Monday and cleared waivers. He was 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA in nine apperances this season.

Teahen was released by the Diamondbacks Monday. He played 22 games for Triple-A Reno this season. He hit .211 in 71 at-bats.

Teahen will report to Triple-A Round Rock in Memphis Friday.

The best Rangers photos on the internet and we don’t even do it with those stupid slide show formats.

Wednesday’s hero…Ross Wolf

David Murphy hits a first-inning home run

Elvis Andrus and the pre-game festivities

Adrian Beltre is congratulated after hitting a first-inning home run

Leury Garcia gets to a ground ball

Nelson Cruz makes a diving catch in the ninth inning

Joe Nathan saves it for Ross Wolf

The Rangers have optioned pitcher Cory Burns to Triple A Round Rock. The move was made so that Ross Wolf could be added to the 25-man roster. The move also leaves the Rangers with four left-handed pitchers in the bullpen: Michael Kirkman, Robbie Ross, Joseph Ortiz and Neal Cotts.

The Rangers have scratched pitcher Nick Tepesch from Wednesday’s start because of a blister on his right middle finger. The Rangers are hoping he’ll pitch Sunday in Seattle. The Rangers plan on recalling right-handed pitcher Ross Wolf from Triple A Round Rock to make that start. Wolf was 1-1 with a 1.85 ERA in six starts for Round Rock. He has pitched in 25 games in the Majors as a reliever with Florida in 2007 and Oakland in 2010.

The Rangers plan to add LHP Neal Cotts to the 25-man roster Tuesday, weather permitting.

The move will be made if Tuesday’s game is played against the Athletics at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Cotts is 3-1 with a 0.78 ERA in Triple-A Round Rock. Opposing batters are hitting .171 against Cotts in 15 games.

Along with the possible move, Jurickson Profar is in the lineup at second base for the second consecutive game.