Borbon completes DL trifecta for Rangers

ARLINGTON -- It's official -- the Rangers' Opening Day outfield is on the disabled list.

Center fielder Julio Borbon joined Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz on the 15-day DL Saturday afternoon after straining his left hamstring the previous night in the seventh inning of the Rangers' 4-1 victory over the Angels.

The Rangers' starting outfield on Saturday was David Murphy, Mitch Moreland and Endy Chavez, who was called up Saturday to replace Borbon. Manager Ron Washington said Saturday the Rangers' injury situation in the outfield is something he's never seen.

"Never," Washington said. "Never. Somebody lasts.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "In a couple of weeks we'll have some big guns back."

The good news is Hamilton and Cruz continue to progress. Hamilton took living batting practice for the second straight day Saturday, and said he was surprised that he didn't have more soreness from Friday's 40 to 50 swings. Hamilton remains on schedule to start a rehab assignment as early as Thursday after getting a CT scan on Wednesday.

"I'm very encouraged," Washington said. "I didn't see him favor anything. That's impressive."

Washington did reveal Saturday that when Hamilton does return, he will likely play his first few games as the designated hitter. The Rangers want to be careful because of where the injury is in the shoulder/arm area -- the official diagnosis was a non-displaced hairline fracture of his right humerus.

"We're not ready for him to be chasing balls and stuff," Washington said. "We just want to ease him in. And we'll just monitor his progress before we want him back into outfield."

Meanwhile, Cruz ran the bases for the first time Saturday and reports were good. He could start his rehab assignment as early as Monday and return for the Rangers' weekend series in Philadelphia. Washington said he would like to get Cruz five rehab games, which would put him on target to play in Saturday's game against the Phillies.

The good news for Borbon is there is no tear of the hamstring. The bad news is that he had been swinging the bat well and improving in the outfield. Borbon had a 10-game hitting streak snapped on Friday night after a three-strikeout game.