The Texas Rangers are keeping RHP Yoshinori Tateyama in the bullpen for 2012.
The team had an option on the pitcher as part of his contract from 2011.
"Yoshi stepped up in the bullpen at a time the club really needed it," commented Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels. "He's a veteran strike thrower with outstanding makeup and we're happy to have him back."
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Tateyama, 35, made 39 appearances in his major league debut with Texas in 2011, going 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA (22 ER/44.0 IP). He recorded 43 strikeouts against just 11 walks for a 3.91 strikeout-to-walk ratio, the 8th-best figure among American League relievers. He did not issue a walk to his first 57 batters faced in the major leagues.
Tateyama was on the Texas roster for the 2011 American League Championship Series against Detroit, making his lone career postseason appearance in ALCS Game 3 at Detroit on October 11. He was not on the club's roster for the American League Division Series or World Series.
He came to the United States after an 11-season career in Japan for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
