Rangers affiliate activates 43-year-old El Duque

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City RedHawks have activated former major league pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez.

Hernandez, 43, was signed to a minor league contract by the Texas Rangers on June 12 in hopes he can bolster the pitching staff. He last pitched in the major leagues in 2007 with the New York Mets, when he was 9-5 with a 3.72 ERA.

He pitched in the Mets minor league system last year until season-ending surgery because of a toe injury.