Former NL All-Star pitcher Mark Prior has been acquired by the Texas Rangers after spending the last month with the Orange County Flyers of the independent Golden Baseball League.
Flyers manager Paul Abbott on Saturday confirmed the Rangers had acquired Prior and that he will be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Prior, who turns 30 on Tuesday, worked in relief for the Flyers. He threw 11 innings over nine outings, striking out 22 of 44 total batters faced while not allowing an earned run. Opponents batted .143 against him.
Prior worked on developing the skills to come out of the bullpen. Last week, he pitched on consecutive days for the first time in his pro career.
Abbott says Prior came to the Flyers to face competitive hitting and see if his arm would hold up.
Prior's five-year major league career with the Chicago Cubs ended in 2006. The right-hander had a 42-29 record and a 3.51 ERA in 106 starts. He made the All-Star team in 2003, when he was 18-6.
He had shoulder surgery and missed the 2007 season, and a shoulder tear forced him to miss the next season. Prior spent last year in the minors with his hometown San Diego Padres.
