EXCLUSIVE

Texas Rangers pitcher Jeremy Jeffress has officially been charged with DWI stemming from his August arrest -- a charge that a carries a MINIMUM of 72 hours in jail.

Jeffress was pulled over in the early hours of August 26th -- and during the stop, cops say he admitted to drinking 3 to 4 cups of Hennessy and Coke before he got behind the wheel.

Also, cops say he peed himself during the arrest.

According to court documents, Jeffress has now been charged with DWI -- a class B misdemeanor -- and in Texas that's a big deal. We're talkin' a minimum of 72 hours behind bars ... and a possible 180 days if the judge throws the book at him (though unlikely).

Jeffress went to rehab after the arrest -- and rejoined the team after roughly a month in treatment.