Taylor Teagarden is about to trade one memorable experience for another.

The Rangers optioned Teagarden to Triple A Monday to make room for starter Scott Feldman. It came a day after Teagarden became just the fourth player in the last 75 years to hit a homer for his first major league hit in a 1-0 victory.

Now he’ll try to help the United States win a gold medal in the Olympics, which helped soften the blow of him being sent to Oklahoma.

"It gives me an opportunity to make the deadline for Beijing and be part of the Olympics," said Teagarden, who had to be sent down by today to be eligible for the Olympics. "I just have to take advantage of that and when I come back, go from there."

Teagarden will go to California this month with the rest of the Olympic squad before heading to Beijing in early August. He would have rather have been with the Rangers but understands the situation.

"Any time you get sent down you’re disappointed," he said. "I’ve got a win-win situation. I could stay here the rest of the year or do a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the Olympics. That’s the best way to look at it."

— Anthony Andro