Major League Baseball

Rangers place C Napoli on 15-day DL

Published Aug. 12, 2012 12:27 a.m. ET

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The Texas Rangers placed All-Star catcher Mike Napoli on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained left quadriceps.

Napoli has been bothered by the injury for about a month, and manager Ron Washington had hoped extra rest would help his slumping catcher.

Napoli rested for three days earlier this week before he went 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts in a 6-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.

''It's been there a long time,'' Washington said. ''It just never healed up.''

Napoli, who started his first All-Star game in July, broke through in 2011 with 30 home runs and a .320 batting average. He's been inconsistent at the plate this season, hitting .223 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs.

Since July 1, Napoli has a .180 batting average with five home runs and 10 RBIs.

Geovany Soto, who was acquired from the Chicago Cubs on July 30, will see most of the playing time behind the plate while Napoli is out.

Washington said he doesn't consider Napoli's leg injury severe.

''He can take this time and he doesn't have to worry about results,'' Washington said. ''He can just work.''

To replace Napoli on the roster, the Rangers recalled catcher Luis Martinez from Triple-A Round Rock.

Martinez was with the Rangers from July 14-21 and appeared in one game. He hit .270 with two homers and 22 RBIs in 65 games with Round Rock.

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