Rangers' Keone Kela out 12 weeks with elbow impingement

Rangers reliever Keone Kela will be sidelined for about twelve weeks as he recovers from a right elbow impingement, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Surgery appears likely at this point, though there is no damage to Kela's ulnar collateral ligament and Tommy John surgery is not an option.

Kela, 23, has served as Texas' setup man so far this season, allowing five earned runs in seven innings of work. He posted a 2.39 ERA in 68 games during his rookie season last year, and will likely hope to regain that form when he returns for the Rangers in July.

In Kela's absence, the Rangers will immediately promote Phil Klein to join Nick Martinez, Alex Claudio, Tony Barnette, Tom Wilhelmsen, Sam Dyson, Jake Diekman and closer Shawn Tolleson in a bullpen that appears to be full of depth. The team also has experienced relievers at Triple-A, with Nick Tepesch, Anthony Ranaudo, Cesar Ramos and Anthony Carter available to be called up.