Yorvit Torrealba Goes On Paternity Leave

Mike Napoli will take over catching duties in Torrealba's absence

Rangers’ catcher Yorvit Torrealba will miss the team’s two-game set with the Oakland Athletics this week as he travels to Florida to be with his wife, who is expecting a daughter.

Per Major League Baseball rules, Torrealba will go to the paternity leave list, freeing up a roster spot for catcher Luis Martinez, who was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock over the weekend. Mike Napoli, who has missed the last two games with a bruised knee, is expected to be well enough to take over catching duties on Tuesday, when the team returns to action.

"[Napoli] showed me (Saturday) that if I needed him in an emergency he could go," Washington said, per ESPN Dallas.

Napoli himself says the injury has improved since Friday, when he was forced to leave the series opener in Seattle, but that he is still a ways off from being fully recovered.
 
"It's not exactly how I wanted to start the second half," Napoli said.

Torrealba is expected to return to the Rangers for their weekend set with the Angels in Anaheim, which begins on Friday.

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