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The Texas Rangers have placed catcher Mike Napoli on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left quad muscle, according to Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas. The team will call up catcher Luis Martinez from Class Triple-A Round Rock to provide catching depth for the Rangers while Napoli is sidelined.
— Richard Durrett (@espn_durrett) August 11, 2012
#Rangers Mike Napoli on DL with left quad strain. Luis Martinez up.
After breaking out last year, the 29-year-old Napoli is having arguably his worst season at the plate of his career. He entered the day batting .223/.343/.429 in 359 plate appearances over 92 games, which are career lows in batting average and slugging.
While Napoli is out, the newly acquired Geovany Soto will move up a slot and serve as the team's primary catcher and Luis Martinez will be the backup. Soto is not close to the same offensive force as Napoli, but he will be fine in the short-term for the team.