Texas Rangers Claim Joe Benson Off Waivers

Joe Benson (right) has fallen from promising prospect to waiver claim and now finds himself a member of the Texas Rangers organization. (Image Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Struggling outfielder Joe Benson has been claimed off of waivers by the Texas Rangers, according to MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger. Benson had been placed on waivers by the Minnesota Twins in an effort to outright him off their 40-man roster.

Benson has struggled through much of his minor league career, particularly his recent few seasons. Taken in the 2nd Round of the 2006 Draft, there were once high hopes for Benson in Minnesota, including some brief talk this Spring that he could be in the mix for the team’s opening in center field (a job that was eventually won by Aaron Hicks). He’d hit just .192/.256/.285 in 164 PA for the team’s Triple-A affiliate this season. Last year he posted just a .202/.288/.336 line in 312 PA across four levels. He’s a career .254/.346/.422 hitter in 2,849 minor league plate appearances.

While most of Benson’s career has been in the minor leagues, though he did have a brief callup to the Major Leagues in September 2011. In 74 PA he batted .239/.270/.352, seeing time across all three outfield positions.

Losing Benson gave the Twins the opening on their 40-man roster to recall P.J. Walters, who’ll step into Vance Worley’s spot in the rotation. Texas has assigned Benson to Double-A.