Rangers purchase contract of Ortiz, designate Miceli for assignment

Monday, April 29th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) _ The Texas Rangers on Monday purchased the contract of catcher Hector Ortiz from Triple-A Oklahoma and designated righthanded pitcher Dan Miceli for assignment.

Ortiz, 32, was purchased by Texas from the Kansas City Royals on Friday and had not appeared in a game at Oklahoma.

The club has 10 days to trade or release Miceli. As a player with at least five years of major league service, Miceli has indicated that he will not accept a minor league assignment in the Texas organization.

Ortiz has a career major league average of .293 with 16 RBIs in 86 games with Kansas City from 1998-2001. He started 46 games in three stints with the Royals last season, batting .247 with 11 RBIs.

Miceli was 0-2 with an 8.64 era in nine relief appearances with the Rangers this season.