Scott Lucas

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Thanks again for following. I have no games to cover today, but I do have a special feature, plus some transactions:

Prospect Review

Following are my prospect assessments using MLB Pipeline’s pre-season top 30. I tend to be cautious in my assessments, especially with injured players and at the lower levels, because I’m working with limited data and observations. Your mileage may vary. 

I have more players rated negatively than positively. That has always been the case and I expect always will. That isn’t a criticism of Texas’s farm (at least not in 2026), it’s the nature of the sport. Most prospects don’t reach their potential, the potential perceived by scouts and others, to be precise. Some players reach the summit, while most peak in the minors and are replaced in rankings by new talent. Actually, given that Texas was starting with its lowest-ranked system in many a year, and given how many prospects were on the shelf or awaiting rookie ball back in March, I’m pleased with the season’s progress, even though Baseball America recently ranked the Texas system worse than Houston (an unconscionable affront). The biggest frustration is the Teodo/Corniell/Santos/Davalillo quartet, but much of the news elsewhere is encouraging. 

I’ve tried not to overdo contextual discussion of the drastic increase in offense at AA and below. In case you weren’t aware, run-scoring and most other offensive stats below AAA are at all-time highs in the modern era (1990-present). Just know that I’ve considered that context in my player reviews. Also, I’ve ignored how a potential lockout might affect current 40-man members and possible additions. I’ll deal with that down the road. 

1. SS/3B Sebastian Walcott
Rating: Even
As long as a major injury has a history of full recovery, I’m disinclined to downgrade a sidelined player absent extraneous factors (already being on a downward trend, becoming “old” relative to competition, impending free agency or lack of options). Walcott has no such factors and has hit the cover off the ball since returning from brace surgery as a DH. 

2. RHP Caden Scarborough
Even
Scarborough missed time as well, though not to a baseball-related injury. So far in 2026, his velocity appears to be down slightly compared to the end of last year, but he looks as effective and exciting as ever.  

3. RHP AJ Russell
Even
Absent a ramp-up, Russell will toss only about 55 innings, a cautious workload given that his brace surgery was in June 2024. He leads all Rangers with a 36% K rate (min. 40 innings) and has a solid walk rate as well, although it’s climbed in high-A. 

4. RHP Jose Corniell
Down
Did you know Corniell is on his last option? Perhaps he gets another, but regardess, time is short. 2024 was lost to surgery, 2025 was an encouraging recovery season culminating in his MLB debut. 2026 has been plagued by additional injuries, more walks, more hits, more runs. 

5. RHP Winston Santos
Down slightly
To answer the question of whether he’s ready: Marco Gonzales. As in, Gonzales is a Ranger and Santos isn’t. Like Corniell, injuries have hampered his development, and the increased offensive environment affected him badly in Frisco. He’s missing a ton of bats, though. Probably a reliever in the long run, possibly a good one. 

6. SS/RHP Josh Owens
Up slightly
Two-way players are rare, and at some point, Owens probably ceases one of his duties. Not in 2027, though. At the complex, he ably controlled a 96 FB / 85 SL combo and showed good exit velocities at the plate. Strikeouts (as a batter) are a concern. 

7. RHP David Davalillo
Down slightly 
Davalillo became one of Texas’s best pitching prospects over the past year but suffered a sudden loss of control upon promotion to Round Rock. After three weeks off, he’s resumed a slightly bumpy path back to AA. A Teodo or Collyer can sometimes get by with diminished control, but not Davalillo. 

8. SS/3B Yolfran Castillo
Up 
His improvement at the plate isn’t just a byproduct of higher offense throughout the minors. He’s grown into some power and shored up last year’s relative weakness in walks and strikeouts. He’s not Walcott, and he won’t be starting 2027 at Frisco, but he’s on a steady ascent. 

9. OF/3B Elian Rosario
Even 
Rosario is described as a “former infielder” by Baseball America but spent nearly all the season at third and didn’t play outfield. He batted .276/.398/.449 in 33 games with five homers, 29 combined BB+HBP and 22 strikeouts. 

10. OF Dylan Dreiling
Up slightly 
Dreiling hit slightly above league-average in 2025 but honestly didn’t look it. He’s improved in ’26, getting much better results on contact. I have mixed feelings about his future in center, but he’s comfortably put himself in position for the next level. 

11. RHP Izack Tiger
Down slightly 
I will be inclined to upgrade to even with just one better outing. Coming off elbow surgery, Tiger has shown good control and is missing plenty of bats. On the downside, that “good” control has included a bunch of straight-ish fastballs plus breakers crossing the plate in the mid-thigh-to-belt region, and batters are absolutely teeing off (.556 avg. / 1.556 slug on contact in hi-A). 

12. LHP Dalton Pence
Up slightly
I saw a lesser performance in person last week, but I also saw someone who might stick at starting if his entire arsenal is in sync. If he can reach the Majors as a middle reliever, that’s fine, too. Despite my rating, a #12 ranking by MLB Pipeline was already generous, and I wouldn’t place him higher. 

13. SS/OF/2B Cam Cauley
Up slightly  
Cauley needed a little time to acclimate to AAA, but once he did, he put himself atop the call-up list, and now you’re watching him on tv (well, BZZR). The statcast data in AAA and the Majors doesn’t fully support his current .250/.341/.444 line, but he offers more than enough in others respects to carve out a useful utility role.

14. RHP Leandro Lopez
Down 
An expanded repertoire and improved control warranted a 40 addition over the winter, but that control abandoned him in 2026, and now he’s dealing with shoulder fatigue. Had he not been added, he wouldn’t be under consideration now, barring a quick return and significant improvement. There’s time, but his history of unalloyed success is brief, and I’m a little worried. 

15. SS/RHP Seong-Jun Kim
Up slightly
See Owens, Josh. Kim didn’t throw as hard as Owens (92.3 FB in limited data availability) but stung the ball with more consistency at the plate. He struck out at a 32% rate. 

16. OF/2B Elorky Rodriguez
Down slightly
He tailed off badly from a strong DSL intro, and I assume he’ll be repeating at the complex to begin 2027. The good news is Rodriguez’s exit velocities were quite promising. Unfortunately, all the hardest hits were grounders, and all the flies were in a lower-90s tier that tends to land in a glove. 

17. RHP Emiliano Teodo
Down slightly
Teodo did reach the Majors, although he wasn’t really ready and let everyone know it in his one appearance. He’s been dominant at times, but his fastball control has often been atrocious. A late-inning reliever lurks in there somewhere, and I am begging for consistency down the stretch. 

18. C Malcolm Moore
Up
There was a real chance the former first-rounder could have fallen off the board in 2026. Reviews of 2025 were downright ugly. Instead, Moore had a terrific start and jumped to AA, where he’s displayed similar power while losing some ground in terms of contact. The promotion was quick, if not rushed, so an adjustment period is understandable. 

19. 3B Jack Wheeler
Even
19 for most of the season, last year’s 6th-rounder hit .302/.356/.531 with 22 XBH in 48 games  mostly at third. He didn’t walk much, and his exits weren’t at the level of any other Baby Rangers I’ve covered. 
 
20. RHP Mason McConnaughey
Even
He hasn’t pitched much, so I’m loathe to offer much. Statcast data indicates a repertoire equal to his brief time at Nebraska: low-90s heaters (touching 95), mid-80s change, low-80s slider. 

21. OF Paxton Kling
Even
Kling was hitting .261/.400/.404 when he suffered a wrist-breaking HBP in mid-June. He’d very likely be in Frisco by now otherwise, but he strikes me as someone who’ll be assigned to Frisco next April no matter how the rest of 2026 transpires (assuming he’s healthy, of course). 

22. OF Paulino Santana
Even
The 19-year-old had added some pop and is hitting line drives and walking frequently. He’s picked up extra CF duty since Hector Osorio’s departure, but his overall usage still portends a left-field role, so with that in mind, think about what you require from the bat. 

23. LHP Josh Trentadue
Down slightly 
As a starter, Trentadue’s control was actually okay, but the minors-wide increased offense ate him alive. Now in relief outings of mixed length, his control is worse but he’s missing many more bats and avoiding hard contact. He could reach the Majors but needs to find a path. 

24. OF Maxton Martin
Down
Martin is bat-first but has lost 50 points of OBP, and while he’ll hit more homers than last year, the increase doesn’t quite keep pace with the minors-wide explosion in long balls. 

25. RHP Carter Baumler
Down slightly
Remember him? Baumler has an MLB-worthy repertoire but has been sidelined by a rotator cuff strain. Whatever his recovery and outlook, keeping him in the organization is going to be a chore, as he’s missed so much time that the Rule 5 requirements will extend into next season. 

26. LHP Ben Abeldt
Down slightly 
Lefties who dared to swing the bat were helpless (.143/.314/.143), but on the whole the 22-year-old didn’t stand out in a league populated mostly with teenagers. He missed the entirety of 2025 because of elbow surgery, so let’s wait for 2027 before judging too harshly. 

27. RHP Jacob Johnson
Up slightly
At the complex, the 20-year-old walked too many but fanned 31% of opponents with a 95-96 fastball, 87-ish change and 83 slider. A promising debut. He’s headed to Hickory to make me drop the “slightly’ from my rating. 

28. RHP Ismael Agreda
Down slightly 
Agreda is fanning a career-best 30% of opposing hitters with a stupidly low contact rate of 64%, but he’s also walking or hitting a career-worst 17%. Maybe a big-league reliever, maybe a career that stalls with a 9.00 ERA in AA. His stuff demands a patient approach. 

29. OF Hector Osorio
Up
Osorio always had strong on-base skills but in 2026 has increased his homers from four 21 in a similar number of games. Hickory was a conservative assignment to start the season, so I’m glad to see continued robust production in high-A. 

30. OF Anthony Gutierrez
Down
Gutierrez’s top-line production and many under-the-hood stats have remained impossibly, annoyingly consistent despite a swing overhaul to produce more flies and presumably more power. His speed is the tool that just might carry him to the Majors, but he has to hit some. An ACL injury will limit his season to one plate appearance. While I don’t want to punish players for injuries, he was trending downward and really needed to be on the field. 

Transactions

Up to Hickory: RHP Jacob Johnson, C Noah Franklin, IF Kolby Branch (2026 8th-rounder)

Up to Hub City RHP Luimy Munoz

Up to Round Rock: OF Orlando Martinez

Rehab in Frisco: IF Corey Seager

Released: pitchers Adrian Rodriguez (2019, 39th round) and Jake Jekielek (2024, 10th round), IF Santiago Espinal (recent FA addition to Round Rock)

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 9, at Albuquerque (COL) 2
Round Rock: 12 hits, 6 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 15-12, 4 G up, 46-56 overall

SP Spencer Adams: 5 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 2 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 60 P / 43 S, 9.15 ERA
RP Winston Santos: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 6.23 ERA
LF Aaron Zavala: 2-4, BB, .269/.362/.418
1B Jonah Bride: 2-2, 2B, 3 BB, .278/.399/.420
SS Keyber Rodriguez: 2-4, HR (7), SB (3), .207/.286/.385

A Texas AAA team hasn’t finished at least ten games under .500 since 1997. Meanwhile, Albuquerque has finished at least 14 games under .500 for seven straight seasons and hasn’t posted a winning record since 2013 (mostly as a Rockies affiliate). Against that historical (if not historic) backdrop, Round Rock took five of six in the Duke City. 

Santos pitched in relief and only two innings, but I’m reluctant to impute meaning in terms of his role. Mostly in the recent past but sometimes still, Texas will use starters who pitched a full workload in the Tuesday series opener in an abbreviated role on Sunday. He has a 6.23 ERA but has pitched exclusively in Albuquerque and Reno as a member of the Express. 

Texas released Jared Kelenic again. 


AA: Frisco 0, at San Antonio (SDP) 6
Frisco: 5 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 15-12, 1 G up, 54-41 overall

SP Blake Townsend: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 54 P / 33 S, 5.66 ERA
RP D.J. McCarty: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 3.38 ERA

Sebastian Walcott failed to reach base safely for the first time since August 28, 2025. Okay, that’s just a 23-game streak because of his elbow injury, but still impressive. 

23-year-old DJ McCarty made his AA debut. An undrafted part of the 2020 class (along with similarly named fourth-rounder Dylan MacLean, much to my regret), McCarty’s ERA jumped from 4.83 in 2025 at Hub City to 5.46 at the same level, but the league ERA has increased by a ridiculous 1.30, so he’s actually improved. 


Hi-A: Hub City 6, at Greenville (BOS) 7
Hub City: 11 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 10-20, 11 GB, 44-52 overall

SP Enrique Segura: 2 IP, 1 H (1 HR), 1 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 46 P / 26 S, 7.04 ERA
SS Luke Hanson: 4-5, 2 2B, SB (12), .264/.342/.434
3B Gleider Figuereo: 3-5, 2B, HR (17), .241/.336/.454

Chris Roland, a handy indy-ball signing from earlier this season, entered the 9th with a one-run lead but surrendered a double and walk-off homer. Hub City is 4-5 since the All-Star Break but has at least reduced a walk rate (to 3.6 per game) that was the highest in high-A from Memorial Day through the break (6.0 per game). 


Lo-A: Hickory 1, Myrtle Beach (CHC) 4 (7)
Hickory: 4 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts

SP Daniel Keaney: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 53 P / 38 S, 3.91 ERA
3B Angel Arredondo: 1-3, HR (8), .243/.371/.392

Undrafted 21-year-old Dan Keaney got several Pelicans to swing through what looks like a screw-change. In 47 innings split between Hickory and the complex, he’s walked only 11 and fanned 62. 

Lo-A: Hickory 9, Myrtle Beach (CHC) 2 (7)
Hickory: 8 hits, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 21-8, 4.5 G up, 55-38 overall

SP Moises Morales: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 4 SO, 60 P / 35 S, 3.95 ERA
CF Marco Argudin: 1-3, 2B, BB, .256/.407/.360
DH Pablo Guerrero: 1-1, 3 BB, .326/.431/.442

Hickory scored six in the 3rd on four hits and much Myrtle Beach generosity. Argudin’s .360 slugging percentage sneaked up on me. Not that he was ever really a power hitter, but since a two-double night in late June he’s hitting .200/.352/.243. He’s still reaching base at a nice rate. 

Five Years Ago Yesterday
I noted that Texas’s full-season pitching staffs were collectively second best in baseball in terms of the difference between strikeout rate and walk rate. Unsurprisingly, Tampa Bay was best.

This photo is not sponsored by HEB. 

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 11, at Albuquerque (COL) 3 (7)
Round Rock: 11 hits, 9 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts

SP Jordan Montgomery: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 75 P / 44 S, 5.63 ERA
RP Chris Martin: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 11.12 ERA
2B Cody Freeman: 3-5, .354/.436/.521
LF Aaron Zavala: 1-2, 3 BB, SB (6), .263/.594/.417
DH Jonah Bride: 2-2, 2 BB, SB (9), .273/.391/.413
RF Trevor Hauver: 2-2, 2B, BB

Jordan Montgomery avoided last week’s One Bad Inning and ratcheted up to a satisfactory 75 pitches. Control of the four-seamer was slightly shaky (21 thrown, 11 balls), but the stats otherwise seem reasonable. The fastball averaged the now-typical 90.6. 

The Topes swung at ten Chris Martin pitches and put six in play, four of them hard, three lined for hits.

AAA: Round Rock 4, at Albuquerque (COL) 3 (7)
Round Rock: 7 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Record: 14-12, 5 GB, 45-56 overall

SP Josh Stephan: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 72 P / 47 S, 5.34 ERA
RP Gavin Collyer: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 2.89 ERA
RF Trevor Hauver: 1-4, HR (7), .266/.383/.395
C Julian Brock: 2-3, 2B, 3B, SB (1)

Gavin Collyer replaced Anthony Veneziano with one out and runners in scoring position. He escaped with a deep sac fly and a hard grounder directly to semi-shifted SS Keyber Rodriguez. 


AA: Frisco 3, at San Antonio (SDP) 4
Frisco: 6 hits, 0 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 15-11, 1 G up, 54-40 overall

SP Dalton Pence: 4.2 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 3 R, 3 BB, 6 SO, 87 P / 57 S, 2.77 ERA
RP Josh Trentadue: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 6.06 ERA
DH Sebastian Walcott: 2-4, 2B, .414/.469/.655
1B Arturo Disla: 2-4, 2 2B, .304/.385/.537

I left San Antonio initially a little underwhelmed with Dalton Pence, but in viewing his game logs I discovered I’d witnessed his worst start of the season in terms of baserunners allowed and game score. That actually makes me feel much better, and I don’t mind seeing a lesser outing. A mix of good and not-so-good innings presents a more comprehensive view. 

Pence’s first two frames weren’t up to his standard. He would very much like back the 2-1 slider thrown to Jake Cunningham and deposited just beyond Orlando Martinez’s leap at the wall. Preceding that, he pushed three of his famously rising fastballs too high against the patient Ethan Salas, turning a 1-2 count into a walk. The 2nd included another fastball-heavy walk. 

His 3rd and 4th were what’s placed him fairly high on various prospect lists. At this point, Pence established his fastball, especially by adeptly placing it not just along the top rail but down at the corners, and the Missions gawked at a good many calls. This set up five consecutive strikeouts (including of Salas and Cunningham) on a mix of low and high fastballs and his splitter. 

Pence couldn’t quite maintain that form to complete the 5th. He issued his third walk, and on his final pitch of the night, Cunningham drove a two-strike fastball for a game-tying double. 

Of his 14 misses, nine were on fastballs, the others mostly splitters. The split was a worthy pitch. I’ve seen outings in which Pence’s slider offered a critical supporting if not starring role, but it wasn’t quite there last night. By my count, two-thirds of his pitches were fastballs, and as they went, so did he. It ranged from 90 to 95, sitting 92 but with a little extra sauce in the 3rd. The slider was mostly 83-85, the splitter mid 80s and curve upper 70s. He threw four curves, none of consequence. 

Frisco looked like they were going to run off 34-year-old Andrew Thurman, Houston’s 2013 second-rounder and back in MLB-affiliated ball after a nine(!)-year absence. Doubles by Sebastian Walcott (a rope down the left line), Arturo Disla and Keith Jones II plated two in the 1st, and Walcott singled in Orlando Martinez (on a liner to left-center) in the 2nd. Henceforth, Thurman would retire 13 straight, seven via strikeout. He had an 18% walk+HBP rate entering the game but issued no freebies to Frisco. Indeed, Frisco had only one baserunner after Walcott’s single.

Walcott would ground out to third and hit a shallow fly to conclude his night. He evidently spent his recuperation period losing whatever remained of his boyishness. He’s filled out. I’ve got some video of him and Pence that I’ll edit and post. 

Josh Trentadue had one of his best relief outings, mixing a mid-90s fastball and low-80s slider. Since switching to relief (or shorter starts), he’s struck out batters at a 35% rate. 




Hi-A: Hub City 6, at Greenville (BOS) 2
Hub City: 10 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 10-19, 11 GB, 44-51 overall

SP Izack Tiger: 3.2 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 2 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 59 P / 39 S, 13.50 ERA
RP Owen Proksch: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SO, 1.62 ERA
CF Quincy Scott: 2-4, HR (7), .216/.356/.367
3B Esteban Mejia: 3-4, 2 2B, SB (5), .286/.370/.443

Izack Tiger’s elbow-surgery rehab in Arizona went to plan, but in high-A, opposing hitters are really enjoying was he has to offer. One ball escaped the yard to right, and RF Max Martin caught two more flies with his rear pressed against the wall. Brock Porter walked four in 3.2 but surrendered no runs. 


Lo-A: Hickory 4, Myrtle Beach (CHC) 3 (10)
Hickory: 10 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 4 walks, 17 strikeouts
Record: 20-7, 4 G up, 54-37 overall

SP Alejandro Chiquillo: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 0 SO, 32 P / 20 S, 3.16 ERA
RP Jesus Lafalaise: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO, 4.04 ERA
SS Yolfran Castillo: 1-4, HR (5), BB, .285/.393/.412
RF Marco Argudin: 3-4, 2B, HBP, .261/.413/.361
CF Paulino Santana: 4-4, 2B, .258/.390/.414

What a crazy bottom of the 10th. Down a run with Yolfran Castillo starting at second, Jay McQueen showed bunt on four straight pitches but pulled back each time to draw a walk, and the last pitch evaded the catcher, allowing Castillo to reach third. Marco Argudin followed with an RBI double. McQueen rounded third but stopped despite a vigorous go signal and then sat on the bag with what appeared to be a leg injury. He was replaced by Curly Martha. Pablo Guerrero then tapped a grounder past the pitcher but snared by 2B Fernando Cruz. Argudin raced for third on contact but Martha more-or-less stayed put. Uh oh. Cruz forced out Guerrero with a throw to 1B Edward Vargas, who threw to SS Alexis Hernandez to nab Argudin. At that point, Martha bolted home and beat the throw from Hernandez. 

Unfortunately I can’t find a clip of the final play that wouldn’t run afoul of someone’s copyright. Hickory’s site has on only preceding Argudin double. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: Adams
AA: Townsend
Hi-A: McCarty
Lo-A: Keaney / TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Baseball America’s midseason top-100 prospect list includes the unsigned Jack Leiter at #37, Josh Jung 43rd and Cole Winn 89th.

Box Scores

AAA: Wet

Two today, including Jordan Montgomery’s rehab start. 

Josh Smith is hitting .206/.333/.235 since returning to AAA, and six of his nine games have occurred in Reno or Albuquerque. Much of the underlying Statcast data is underwhelming, but then, that’s almost always been the case. Smith has never hit the ball especially hard, instead relying on swing decisions and angles to make his case. 

Texas signed 28-year-old lefty Anthony Veneziano, who was a Ranger briefly before heading off to Korea (without much success). 


AA: Frisco 10, at San Antonio (SDP) 0
Frisco: 12 hits, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 15-10, 2 G up, 54-39 overall

SP Cody Bradford: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 48 P / 39 S, 1.50 ERA
RP Aidan Curry: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 SO, 5.51 ERA
DH Sebastian Walcott: 4-5, 2B, SB (2), .400/.464/.640
CF Dylan Dreiling: 2-4, SB (16), .296/.371/.489
1B Arturo Disla: 2-4, 2B, .300/.383/.529

Sebastian Walcott had four hits. Watch ’em all, plus Walcott swiping a base off top San Diego prospect Ethan Salas. 

Cody Bradford was in fine form. With a little more defensive help, he could have completed four on that same number of pitches, but no matter. (The defense wasn’t bad, just a few near-misses on some opportunities.) I’m sure there’s always room for refinement, but in general he appears to lack nothing but stamina, and how much of that he needs will depend on his role. 

Also in form was Aidan Curry, who fanned “only” six but had 16 whiffs, near his season high. Curry dealt a mid-90s fastball, upper-80s cutter, mid-80s slider and mid-70s curve. I didn’t see a change, but I didn’t see every pitch. 


Hi-A: Hub City 10, at Greenville (BOS) 4 (7)
Hub City: 11 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts

SP Caden Scarborough: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 62 P / 48 S, 3.60 ERA
2B Casey Cook: 1-3, 2B, BB, .250/.323/.500
1B Gleider Figuereo: 2-4, HR (16), SB (10), .238/.336/.445
CF Marcos Torres: 2-4, SB (3), .238/.304/.381

Scarborough resumed normal activity after a briefer post-ASB start and tied a season-high 16 swinging strikes. Three of the six strikeouts required only three pitches. 

Hi-A: Hub City 1, at Greenville (BOS) 2
Hub City: 5 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 9-19, 11 GB, 43-51 overall

SP Kamdyn Perry: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 60 P / 39 S, 9.32 ERA
CF Quincy Scott: 2-3, 2B, SB (13), .210/.354/.323

Perry had one of his better outings in terms of runs scored, although he’s still looking for his first high-A appearance with a walk rate under 10%. 


Lo-A: Hickory 1, Myrtle Beach (CHC) 2 (8)
Hickory: 5 hits, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

SP Mason McConnaughey: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 46 P / 29 S, 5.14 ERA
RP Josh Sanders: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
LF Paulino Santana: 1-2, 2 BB

Mason McConnaughey invoked the spirit of former Ranger Bob Tewksbury, who had a better-than-average ERA despite fanning only 53 batted in 129 innings in 1995. Neither team scored until the extra 8th inning. Representing the tying run, Jay McQueen singled with one out and reached third on a passed ball and Santana single, but he would move no farther. 

Lo-A: Hickory 2, Myrtle Beach (CHC) 1 (7)
Hickory: 7 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 19-7, 4 G up, 53-37 overall

SP Evan Siary: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 68 P / 46 S, 3.32 ERA
RP Louis Marinaro: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 4.21 ERA
LF Paulino Santana: 1-2, BB, .249/.384/.404

In July, Evan Siary has completely shut down the hard contact that made for some run-filled earlier outings. In his past three starts, he’s allowed only one extra-base hit (a double) and only one run. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: Montgomery / Stephan
AA: Pence
Hi-A: Tiger
Lo-A: Lafalaise

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Frisco’s AJ Alexy allowed a lone run in 4.2 innings but walked five. He was five weeks from his MLB debut, would you believe. Josh Jung was 3-4 with a go-ahead single in the 8th. 

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 14, at Albuquerque (COL) 1
Round Rock: 20 hits, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 12-12, 5.5 GB, 43-56 overall

SP Joe Ross: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 18 P / 14 S, 4.35 ERA
CF Jarred Kelenic: 4-6, 2 2B, 3B, .374/.451/.654
3B John Taylor: 4-5, HBP, .286/.403/.489
RF Aaron Zavala: 2-5, 2B, BB, .267/.355/.421
C Julian Brock: 2-3, 2B, BB, HBP

A day game in July. Criminally negligent in Round Rock but feasible in Albuquerque. Jarred Kelenic continues to pad his resume for a nice payday in Asia. Marc Church, Mason Thompson, Luis Curvelo, rehabbing Chris Martin and Austin Roberts provided scoreless innings. 


AA: Frisco 3, at San Antonio (SDP) 0
Frisco: 10 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 0 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 14-10, 1 G up, 53-39 overall

SP Trey Supak: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 49 P / 33 S, 0.00 ERA
RP Dylan MacLean: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 4.44 ERA
CF Dylan Dreiling: 3-5, HR (14), SB (9), .293/.369/.486
LF Yeison Morrobel: 2-3, 2 2B, HBP, .364/.417/.591
2B Max Wagner: 1-3, HR (13), BB, .250/.367/.546

Off a month-long IL stay, Trey Supak limited the Missions to an infield single. Frisco managed to convert two homers, four doubles, four singles, three walks, a hit batter, four steals into three whole runs. 


Hi-A: wet

Two tonight.


Lo-A: wet again

Two Sunday. A doubleheader is already scheduled for tonight.


Rookie: Rangers 21, Angels 3
Rangers: 20 hits, 8 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 28-32, season over

SP Josh Owens: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.48 ERA
RP Jacob Johnson: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 SO, 2.84 ERA
SS Seong-Jung Kim: 2-2, HR (7), HBP, .303/.419/.545
2B Cody Freeman: 1-4, BB
LF Braulio Cavero: 3-5, 2 3B, BB, .480/.552/.880
3B Daniel Rodriguez: 2-4, 3B, .302/.393/.490
C Noah Franklin: 3-4, 2B, BB, .363/.426/.627
DH Josh Owens: 2-6, HR (9), .255/.345/.469

The baby Rangers closed the season by beating the Angels soundly enough to switch their run differential from -13 to +5. 

2026 was the highest-scoring Arizona season* in at least 20 years, probably longer. The park-adjusted league-average batting line for a Ranger was .267/.381/.429, and an average ERA was 6.11. Let’s review some notable names, keeping in mind the Complex League is chaos incarnate and shouldn’t be given too much credence in terms of statistical evaluation. Also, I’ve got partial statcast data for 16 games (out of 60), and I manually recoded a bunch of pitches that seemed off (like Ben Abeldt’s 79 MPH sinkers):

P/MIF Josh Owens (Age 19) — .255/.345/.469 (100 OPS+) with a team-high nine homers. His walk rate was bland (10%, league average was 16%), and his strikeout rate was alarming (37%, league average 26%). Despite my caveat about stat-scouting, that’s something to watch. Owens has the two longest homers on record at 457 and 437 feet. On the mound, Owens tossed 20.2 innings with a 3.48 ERA, just a 9% BB+HBP rate (lovely to see in a league like this) and 27% K rate. Owens averaged 96.4 MPH with his sinker (touching 98.6) and 85.8 with the slider. 

P/SS Seong-Jung Kim (19) — .303/.419/.545 (137 OPS+) with seven homers and ten other XBH in 48 games, occasionally at short but mostly as a DH. Like Owens, a concern is a high 32% K rate. Pitched sparingly but well, although the 1.04 ERA fibs a bit: 12 runners and 10 strikeouts in 8.2 innings. He dealt a four-seamer averaging 92.7 (top 95.5) and an 81 breaker.  

OF Jay McQueen (19) — graduated to Hickory early with honors, batting .361/.465/.536 (147 OPS+) with 17 XBH and seven steals (and seven caught) in 48 games. 

3B Jack Wheeler (20) — .302/.356/.531 (117 OPS+) with six homers and 16 other XBH. Last year’s sixth-rounder but not a thrift-sign like rounds 5-10 in Texas’s 2026 draft; his $525,000 was the second-highest bonus in that round. 

SS/3B Daniel Rodriguez (18) — Not quite a pop-up prospect, but after a nondescript if walk-heavy DSL tour last year, he immediately showed potent contact stateside and finished .302/.393/.490 (117 OPS+) with 15 XBH. A name to remember. 

C Noah Franklin (19) — Singed for an above-slot $275,000 in last year’s 17th round, Franklin batted .363/.426/.627 with five homers and ten other XBH. He didn’t walk or strike out much. Franklin hit a homer 425 feet at 109.8 off the bat, the best exit velo of any Ranger on record. 

2B Elorky Rodriguez (18) — Not all the news is upbeat. Coming off a terrific DSL campaign and certainly better-regarded than Daniel (no relation to my knowledge) entering 2026, Elorky pretty much stopped hitting after a solid dozen games and concluded at .188/.352/.297 (62 OPS+). 

RHP Jacob Johnson (20) — Last year’s 11th-rounder posted a 2.84 ERA with a 17% BB+HBP and 31% SO in 25.1 innings. Johnson has the fastest pitch by a Ranger on record, 100.4, but nothing else above 96.9, so I’m skeptical. He averaged 95.8, so there’s legitimate heat. He also offered an 83.2 slider and 87.5 change. 

LHP Ben Abeldt (22) — Last year’s 5th-rounder from TCU and recovering from elbow surgery. Statcast recorded literally every pitch he threw as a sinker. My recoding shows a sinker averaging 90 topping at 92.3, plus (I think) a change and two breakers. His top-line stats in 40.2 innings were near the middle: 5.31 ERA, 16% BB+HBP, 27% K, but opponents batted only .196/.327/.343 (66 OPS+). 

LHP Enyel Lopez (20) — I’d seen reports of 96-98 MPH in spring, but in the available games, Lopez topped at 95 with the four-seamer and averaged 93-94 (hard to say for sure because of some pitch classification issues). He also threw a mid-80s breaker, and a few pitches seem change-like but I’m loathe to affirm. Unfortunately, his ERA was 11.39 and isn’t lying. Opponents hit .339/.488/.479 with a 24% walk+HBP rate. He struck out 40 in 31.2 innings, but because of so many runners his K rate of 24% was actually below average. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: TBD 
AA: Bradford
Hi-A: Scarborough / Perry
Lo-A: McConnaughey / TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
The Masons Englert and Cole combined for eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball, but low-A Down East lost 1-0 on a walk-off walk.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 2, at Albuquerque (COL) 5
Round Rock: 8 hits, 6 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 11-12, 6 GB, 42-56 overall

SP Nolan Kingham: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 65 P / 35 S, 7.62 ERA
RP Emiliano Teodo: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 4.10 ERA
RP Gavin Collyer: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.00 ERA
2B John Taylor: 3-4, .266/.386/.477

Emiliano Teodo tightened his fastball location considerably but unfortunately was to pay in the form of four hard-hit balls, three for hits. Albuquerque wasn’t chasing against anyone last night and in particular didn’t offer at a single out-of-zone pitch from Teodo. 


AA: Frisco 7, at San Antonio (SDP) 5
Frisco: 9 hits, 5 walks, 16 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 4 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 13-10, 1 G up, 52-39 overall

SP David Davalillo: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 58 P / 36 S, 3.62 ERA
RP Eric Loomis: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.45 ERA
DH Sebastian Walcott: 2-5, 2 2B, .300/.391/.550
1B Arturo Disla: 1-3, HR (10), BB, .294/.382/.522

Davalillo had an encouraging start. Through three, he allowed only one runner and fanned five, and he induced several goofy swings with his slider and splitter. After the 1st, his strike rate dropped to 58%, and he issued the one walk and reached three-ball counts to three others, but I suspect if I scrutinized his pre-trouble starts i could find similar results in brief stretches. If you’d never seen or heard of him before, you’d have no reason to think he was “going through” anything. 

Frisco pummeled 2025 senior-sign Jamie Hitt, who didn’t exactly thrive in high-A (5.36 ERA) but is 24 and a Padre, so welcome to Double A. 


Hi-A: Hub City 6, at Greenville (BOS) 13
Hub City: 7 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 16 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 8-18, 10 GB, 42-50 overall

SP AJ Russell: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 32 P / 17 S, 4.05 ERA
DH Casey Cook: 2-4, BB, .273/.333/.545
1B Antonis Macias: 2-4, HR (5), .251/.356/.367
RF Marcos Torres: 2-4, 2B, SB (2)

32 pitches were enough to complete AJ Russell’s evening. He did pitch three days ago. He’s been on as tight a leash as any would-be starter I can imagine, yet to exceed 59 pitches. 


Lo-A: wet

Makeup Friday. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: Ross
AA: MacLean
Hi-A: Perry
Lo-A: Morales

Five Years Ago Yesterday
1B Curtis Terry was called up for his MLB debut. I’d written about him frequently, maybe too much, but he was crushing AAA and the 2021 Rangers were dismal. 

What I wrote at the time: “Terry has solid if not elite power with better ability to make contact, hit to the opposite field and avoid strikeouts than you’d expect from a first baseman of his size. His walk rate is average to slightly below. He lacks speed and is ordinary defensively, so it’s all about the bat. For about a month, I’ve suggested he’s ready for MLB, although that’s not at all to say he’s been wasting his time in Round Rock. I don’t think he’s going to own the league, but I’m hopeful he can get by in the short run and continue to develop.

“Terry’s arrival is a huge accomplishment for him and the Rangers. He spent his first four years at the rookie at short-season levels, and for the middle two of those four, I honestly had little enthusiasm for his future. He came across as a pure-strength slugger who had serious trouble with breaking stuff. In 2018, he looked different, becoming choosier in his swings and driving the ball to all fields. While he spent 2018 in short-season once again, that year marked the beginning of his ascent. He reaches MLB after only 192 full-season minor league games.

“Terry isn’t here to save the Rangers, but in the midst of Texas’s bleakest stretch in 36 years, he’s a little ray of hope. A little, 260-lb. ray of hope.”

Unfortunately, he did not get by in the short run. He started 0-for-20 and collected only four hits in 13 games. He would be sent back to AAA, non-tendered that fall, and after a season in Minnesota’s system, he would be through with MLB-affiliated ball. He’s spent the past four years in indy ball, currently slugging .582 with 13 homers in 50 games for Lexington in the Atlantic League. 

Draft Etc.

The Rangers signed their top 18 picks. Unsigned are 20th-round pitcher Cody Airington, already on the record as returning to Austin Peay, and 19th-round pitcher Selden Kolkebeck, a high-schooler committed to Columbia. After some miscues, I’ve reached the point I can type “Selden Kolkebeck” from memory, so I’m okay with Texas signing him. Also joining the Rangers after sliding through the draft:

3B Wailele Kane-Yates, 22, batted .315/.403/.482 with seven homers in 51 games for Oral Roberts. Listed as a 3B but mainly a catcher in college. 

Catcher Karson Bowen, 22, a former Horned Frog who transferred to Florida and hit .261/.353/.431 with seven homers in 55 games. 

Catcher Mito Perez, 23, .297/.398/.399 with three homers in 44 games for Grand Canyon following four years at Tarleton State. 

All newcomers are nominally assigned to the complex squad, which will conclude the season tomorrow because… yeah, I don’t know why they make the schedule that way. Seems silly. A few players might see a some action in the A levels. 

Marco!

Texas received three scoreless innings last night from Marco Gonzalez, about whom I’d never written positively and insisted he was at best an inning-chewer for the Express, not a consideration for a contending club like Texas. So, am I an idiot? Maybe, but not because of this. Gonzales had an 8.16 ERA in 64 AAA innings, and while a large chunk of those innings occurred in El Paso and similarly unfavorable settings, the peripheral and Statcast data strongly supported that ERA. Still, Texas opted for him over the rested Winston Santos (Tuesday’s AAA starter) and Luis Curvelo (who couldn’t be expected to last more than two innings). Like Chris Paddack before, Gonzales can be designated for assignment without regret when the time comes. 

To be clear, I’d much rather Gonzales defy my expectations than conform. I offer opinions as best I can, but if Gonzales wants to go out there and shove while wearing a cap with a T, he has my blessing. 

Elsewhere
Kohl Drake excelled for Arizona in his MLB debut, allowing one run in five innings against the Athletics. Drake hadn’t pitched in 13 days, and his season in AAA hasn’t been much fun, as a lower whiff rate and higher altitude have contributed to a 6.92 ERA for Reno. 

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 4, at Albuquerque (COL) 9
Round Rock: 12 hits, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
Opponent: 10 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 11-11, 5 GB, 42-55 overall

SP Winston Santos: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 55 P / 35 S, 7.36 ERA
RP Chris Martin: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 12.27 ERA
CF Jarred Kelenic: 3-5, HR (5), .351/.432/.619
3B Josh Smith: 1-3, 2 BB, SB (6), .235/.320/.365

Winston Santos’s line doesn’t quite sparkle but he pitched well in a difficult environment. Santos had only three three-ball counts, and the one walker was nabbed trying to steal. Only three balls were hit hard. Per usual lately, about 90% of his output was four-seamers and sliders, augmented with a few firm changes. Chris Martin got Charlie Condon to swing through a couple of curves and Zac Veen to fly out to left on the same. 

Round Rock didn’t make any substitutions in response to Josh Jung being pulled mid-game. 


AA: Frisco 5, at San Antonio (SDP) 7
Frisco: 6 hits, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 12-10, tied for first, 51-39 overall

SP Ben Anderson: 4.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 7 SO, 90 P / 54 S, 5.54 ERA
C Malcolm Moore: 2-3, HR (5), BB, .235/.333/.471
1B Arturo Disla: 1-3, 2B, BB, .293/.380/.510

Malcolm Moore went deep again. Last night’s conditions were mild, but in general, homering toward right-center takes some doing in San Antonio because the wind typically blows in. 


Hi-A: Hub City 5, at Greenville (BOS) 1
Hub City: 10 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 8-17, 8.5 GB, 42-49 overall

SP Ismael Agreda: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 71 P / 47 S, 5.32 ERA
RP Luke Savage: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 6.08 ERA
RP Owen Proksch: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.76 ERA
SS Luke Hanson: 4-4, BB, .255/.332/.427
1B Antonis Macias: 2-5, HR (4), .246/.353/.351

Owen Proksch surrendered four hits, one fewer than his total in seven previous appearances for the Burgers. Opponents are hitting .191/.255/.213 with two walks and 21 strikeouts in 13.1 innings. Ismael Agreda has improved his control (which was terrifying last month) and kept the ball in the park in July. 


Lo-A: Hickory 1, Myrtle Beach (CHC) 0
Hickory: 6 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 1 hit, 1 walk, 13 strikeouts
Record: 18-6, 3.5 G up, 52-36 overall

SP Aidan Deakins: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 SO, 72 P / 49 S, 2.25 ERA
RP Jake Jekielek: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 4.35 ERA
RP Wily Villar: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 4.50 ERA

Aidan Deakins is the 2024 13th-rounder. Daniel Keaney is the undrafted free agent. Their names aren’t really alike but share enough letters to confuse me. I’ve been dealing with this since 2007, when Craig Gentry and Grant Gerrard were outfield teammates for low-A Clinton. Deakins isn’t the hardest thrower but has a plan, which last involved involved getting Pelicans to swing through fastballs, sweepers, changes and maybe a cutter. Wily Villar got strikeouts swinging and looking with his knee-bending slider. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: Kingham
AA: TBD
Hi-A: Russell
Lo-A: Siary

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Frisco’s Hans Crouse walked a season-high four but was otherwise effective. His address was about to change. Blaine Crim has 11 homers and an .828 slugging percentage over the past month. 

Batters Of The (Partial) Year

These stats don’t include the weekend. 1. IF Rafe Perich


2. OF Hector Osorio


3. IF John Taylor


4. 1B Arturo Disla


5. C Malcolm Moore


6. OF Yeison Morrobel


7. IF Angel Arrendondo


8. OF Dylan Dreiling


9. IF Yolfran Castillo


Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 5, Las Vegas (ATH) 4
Round Rock: 10 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts
Record: 11-10, 4 GB, 42-54 overall

SP Josh Stephan: 4.2 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 4 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 90 P / 62 S, 5.64 ERA
RP Marc Church: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 5.79 ERA
RP Josh Sborz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 8.16 ERA
RP Wilian Bormie: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2.93 ERA
3B John Taylor: 2-3, BB, .242/.372/.467
LF Aaron Zavala: 2-4, 2B, SB (5), .270/.355/.427

Since I renewed discussion of Josh Sborz’s fastball velocity in my discussion of statcast the other day, I’ll point out he’s better lately, averaging 94.0 over the last month versus a range of 92.9-93.4 in previous months. Last night, he averaged 93.0, his first appearance after a couple of walk-strewn outings in Reno. 

Round Rock took two of three from the team with the best record in AAA (56-35 entering the series).


AA: Frisco 6, Tulsa (LAD) 4
Frisco: 8 hits, 6 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 12-9, tied for 1st, 51-38 overall

SP Blake Townsend: 4 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 3 R, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 4 SO, 73 P / 41 S, 5.35 ERA
RP Joey Danielson: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO, 6.75 ERA
RP Eric Loomis: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 3.56 ERA
DH Sebastian Walcott: 2-4, HR (1)
CF Dylan Dreiling: 2-3, BB, .289/.366/.475

Sebastian Walcott lasered a breaker 109 MPH into the stands. IN the 8th, he would single to commence Frisco’s rally from two runs down. 


Hi-A: Hub City 7, Greensboro (PIT) 3
Hub City: 9 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 6 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 7-17, 9 GB, 41-49 overall

SP Kamdyn Perry: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 0 SO, 28 P / 14 S, 10.50 ERA
RP Cole Roland: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 3.51 ERA
RP D.J. McCarty: 5 IP, 3 H (5 HR), 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 5.46 ERA
RP J’Briell Easley: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 4.86 ERA
2B Casey Cook: 2-5, HR (2)
DH Gleider Figuereo: 1-4, HR (15), .240/.340/.447

At the complex, a new rule allows pitchers to leave mid-inning and return the next as is permitted in Spring Training. To be honest, I’ve paid no attention to how often the Rangers or other teams are availing themselves of this, but I found four such cases by the Rangers in scanning a few boxes with rough outings from the starters. I wouldn’t be surprised if this rule is implemented at the A levels in the future, and Texas would find that quite handy. I haven’t done the research and doubt I will, but I feel I’ve seen more 1st-inning pulls this season, which would make sense with workloads being what they are and control being worse than ever across the minors. 

Okay, I did a little research, and Hub City has six starts with two or fewer outs records, but Texas’s other three full-season teams have a total of three. Maybe it’s just a Hub City thing. 

Texas’s top three picks from 2024 spent last year in Hub City and were bland (Dreiling) or worse (Moore, Cook). Dreiling and Moore have rebounded in 2026 and Cook is trying to join that club quickly by hitting his second homer in as many days since returning to the Burgers. 


Lo-A: suspended

Unfortunately for Daniel Keaney (0.1 IP, 6 R), this game will be resumed in Wilson later, and the stats will count. 

Five Years Ago Yesterday
“The Rangers are 209-291 in their last 500 games. Only once have they been worse: 207-293 in the period ending June 9, 1975. There’s nothing magical about 500, which equals three full seasons and two weeks of a fourth, but it’s a large enough number to carry some weight.” The Rangers would eventually reach a new low of 204-296 in early 2023, when they were above .500 to open the season but hadn’t yet commenced the blazing stretch that propelled them to 40-20. 

Evan Grant wrote the following about Jordan Montgomery’s rehab outing yesterday: “Montgomery struggled through an outing with Triple-A Round Rock Saturday evening that was scheduled for five innings and about 75 pitches. He,instead lasted just 2 ⅔ innings against Las Vegas, allowing seven hits and six runs. More concerning: His velocity stepped backwards. Montgomery averaged only 90.1 mph with the fastball, down 1.7 mph from his previous five rehab outings. The Rangers had hoped to see it tick closer to 93 mph.” (emphasis added)

Grant is wrong about the velocity loss, but that’s not his fault. In the player breakdown section of the AAA Statcast gameday feed, there’s a velocity section and sub-columns called “Yr-Avg” and “+/-,” which show “91.8” and “-1.7,” respectively. The problem is that 91.8 is not Montgomery’s fastball (specifically sinker) average in Round Rock in 2026, it’s his average in 2024 as an Arizona Diamondback. It’s a little annoying, but Statcast is programmed to use MLB data for comparison purposes, even if the pitcher hasn’t played in MLB in 2026, and even if the pitcher has minimal experience in the Majors (like Winston Santos). 

There’s no way for Evan or anyone to know this just from looking at the gamefeed. I know mainly because of Josh Sborz, who isn’t throwing as hard as year’s past but somehow has a 95.1 average fastball velocity if you peruse the gamefeed from one of his outings. That caught my eye earlier this year, and I discovered that the 95.1 is Sborz’s fastball average from 2024, the last time he appeared in the Majors.  
As for the Rangers hoping to see closer to 93 from Montgomery, I have nothing encouraging to offer. Montgomery’s sinkers in three prior AAA outings averaged 89.7, 90.6 and 90.1. 

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 1, Las Vegas (ATH) 8
Round Rock: 3 hits, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 10-10, 5 GB, 41-54 overall

SP Jordan Montgomery: 2.2 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 6 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 53 P / 33 S, 6.94 ERA
RP Austin Roberts: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.00 ERA

So: Montgomery. For two innings he cruised, needing only 19 pitches to retire six batters in order. I had a Narrative ready: “Montgomery doesn’t throw as hard as he used to, but he doesn’t really need to. He can put the ball where he wants, get ahead and have batters guessing in unfavorable counts.” Then, a 34-pitch, seven-hit, six-run 3rd.  

I was focused on Montgomery’s pitch selection and sequencing, but he tricked me by throwing first-pitch fastballs to his first eight opponents. That’s not the usual Montgomery experience, but they were well-located, generating six strikes. Then, Montgomery dealt a first-pitch curve to weak-hitting #9 hitter Jack Winkler, who drove it to center for a single. Then, Max Muncy crushed a first-pitch change for a homer. That is not the usual AAA experience, but credit the Aviators for hopping on a couple of mid-mid offspeeds intended as strike-stealers. Montgomery didn’t walk anyone but lost the precision on his location, losing the borders that made such quick work of the earlier innings. 

I don’t want to fret too much about a Triple A rehab, but at the same time, we’ve reached the point where the performance actually matters, and the organization has to be deciding on what role he can serve and when. Revisiting the velocity, It’s not as though I can predict the future, but I’ve been under an assumption that he’s just someone who has a 90 MPH fastball now. He could be a decent back-of-rotation option but absolutely has to hit his spots. 


AA: Frisco 4, Tulsa (LAD) 3
Frisco: 11 hits, 0 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 11-9, 1 GB, 50-38 overall

SP Cody Bradford: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 37 P / 27 S, 3.00 ERA
RP Dalton Pence: 4 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 2 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 2.49 ERA
DH Sebastian Walcott: 2-4
CF Dylan Dreiling: 2-4, HR (13), .285/.361/.474
LF Yeison Morrobel: 1-3, HR (1)

Cody Bradford had the control that was missing from his previous rehab and fanned four of seven batters. He wasn’t missing badly last time, just consistently off enough for an ugly 33% strike rate. Sebastian Walcott slapped a grounder through the right side for a single and lined earnestly to left for another. He also lined squarely at the midsection of pitcher Adam Serwinowski, who caught it with some combination of glove and torso. 


Hi-A: Hub City 7, Greensboro (PIT) 10
Hub City: 12 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 6-17, 9 GB, 40-49 overall

SP Caden Scarborough: 2 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 2 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 34 P / 26 S, 3.85 ERA
RP AJ Russell: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 2.92 ERA
RP Owen Proksch: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1.98 ERA
3B Gleider Figuereo: 3-4, 2B, HR (14), BB, .240/.341/.440
C Arturo De Freitas: 3-4, 2B, HR (1)

On another sweltering night, the teams combined for six homers following Friday’s eight. Greensboro leadoff hitter Sammy Stafura knocked a 2-2 pitch from Caden Scarborough beyond the 411′ sign in right-center. Scarborough flung high fastballs past the next two batters for strikeouts and concluded his short evening with a third. 

I wrote the following when Texas traded away Hub City catcher Ben Hartl for reliever Ben Peoples: “Texas was already very light on catching in the A levels… but, well, who cares. The Rangers can probably sign someone of similar caliber from an indy league if they want.” Five days later, Texas bought the contract of catcher Arturo De Freitas from Quebec of the Frontier League, where he was hitting .311/.423/.602. He’d been released from Philadelphia’s system in August 2024. In three games, he’s collected three extra-base hits and thrown out four of nine runners. I’d like to thank the Rangers for giving me the opportunity to look like I know what I’m talking about. 


Lo-A: Hickory 5, Wilson (MIL) 4
Hickory: 7 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 6 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 17-6, 4 G up, 51-36 overall

SP Jormy Nivar: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 53 P / 33 S, 2.63 ERA
RP JD McReynolds: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 3.60 ERA
RP Geury Rodriguez: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 3.09 ERA
RP Louis Marinaro: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 4.46 ERA
DH Pablo Guerrero: 2-4, HR (1), .391/.500/.565
CF Jamaurion McQueen: 0-1, 2 BB, HBP, SB (1)

Nivar made only his second start but has been on what passes for a low-level starter’s workload all season, dealing three to five innings once per week. McQueen was last year’s final pick but paid $280,000, equivalent to slot for a seventh-rounder. He batted .361/.465/.526 in 48 games at the complex, and while I wouldn’t put much emphasis on those numbers per se, they do show his promotion was easily justified. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: unlisted, maybe Stephan
AA: Townsend
Hi-A: Perry
Lo-A: Keaney

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Texas reinstated catcher Huff from the 60-day IL by optioning him to Frisco, and to make room, the Rangers surprisingly designated righty Tyler Phillips for assignment. “Always more control than command, his introduction to AA in 2019 was predictably on the rough side. Still, Phillips was added to the 40-man roster after 2019. Because of covid and a minor elbow injury, he’d pitched only 25 innings since being added. In 2021, his first two starts seemed to offer some of the improvements needed to reach the big leagues, but his most recent eight outings were so far removed from his historical results that they defy belief: 18 walks, five homers, 18 other hits allowed in just 16.1 innings. In the midst of that span, certainly not on merit, he was curiously promoted to AAA.” He would be claimed by his hometown Phils and reach the Majors three years later, albeit without much success. Phillips is now thriving as a reliever with the Marlins (although with peripherals not nearly matching his low ERA). While the manner of Phillips’ departure from Texas was startling, his latter-day success isn’t a mark against the Rangers. Some pitchers take longer to develop than can be reasonably accommodated under the reserve system. 

Transactions

Reliever Jakob Junis is active, joined by Jose Corniell, who was to start in Round Rock tonight. Relievers Emiliano Teodo and Gavin Collyer were optioned. 

Starters Of The (Partial) Year

Here’s a quick, stat-driven rundown of Texas’s best MiLB performers so far. But first, a little note:

At the three full-season levels below AAA, offense is higher than it has ever been in my 20 years on the beast, higher than any other season under the modern classification system (1990), higher than any season since at least 1970, as far back as I checked. Wild times. 

1. Dalton Pence


2. AJ Russell


3. Alejandro Chiquillo 


Caden Scarborough has only 23 innings but is Chiquillo’s equal in terms of performance.

Relievers Of The (Partial) Year

1. Owen Proksch


2. Robby Ahlstrom



3. Wilian Bormie


Statistically, Hickory’s Luimy Munoz and Michael Trausch are nearby.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 9, Las Vegas (ATH) 1
Round Rock: 8 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
Record: 10-9, 4 GB, 41-53 overall

SP Marco Gonzales: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 75 P / 47 S, 8.16 ERA
RP Ryan Lobus: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 4.82 ERA
RP Alexis Diaz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.51 ERA
3B John Taylor: 1-3, 3B, 2 BB, SB (6), .237/.365/.474
CF Jarred Kelenic: 2-5, 2B, SB (6), .352/.441/.614

Nolan Kingham touched 97 in a brief outing. His fastball has averaged 94 as a starter. Kingham certainly had the stuff to justify returning to the States from Mexico, but homers, especially on the road, have crushed him. That’s a surprise, as he wasn’t very susceptible to them south of the border where homers are rampant. 

Incidentally, throughout the boxes are starting or long-relief pitchers getting an inning in to keep fresh for next week’s resumptions of full schedules. Kingham, Moises Morales, Jesus Lafalaise, Enrique Segura, Ismael Agreda and Joe Adametz all pitched yesterday. 


AA: Frisco 4, Tulsa (LAD) 6
Frisco: 11 hits, 7 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 10-9, 1 G up, 49-38 overall

SP Aidan Curry: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 77 P / 46 S, 6.26 ERA
DH Sebastian Walcott: 0-3, 2 BB, SB (1)
1B Arturo Disla: 2-3, 2 BB, .294/.382/.519
LF Yeison Morrobel: 2-5

Sebastian Walcott is in AA after two appearances with the rookies. Frisco has 50 games remaining, so with a few days off, Walcott can approach if not reach 200 plate appearances for the season. 

Tulsa has the best overall and by far the most patient offense Curry has faced in AA. He’s fortunate to be a veteran of sorts; many pitchers wouldn’t have lasted beyond their second walk and 28th pitch in the 1st. Given a longer leash, he then retired ten straight. 

Whatever else happens, Yeison Morrobel reaching Frisco on merit is a nice story. He batted .170/.248/.278 last year in Hub City repeating the level, and despite his young age (then 21), I feared for his employment. In high-A for a third time and with Anthony Gutierrez, Paxton Kling and Max Martin around, he appeared to be in a group with Chandler Pollard (who can also play infield) and Quincy Scott (same, at 1B) fighting for occasional starts. Injuries to other and his own much-improved play gave him consistent at-bats, and now we’ll see what he can do in Frisco. 

Per the MLB.com beat reporter for the Athletics: “Ryan Lasko update: He was transferred yesterday to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in his home state of New Jersey to continue his rehab. There has been no change in his condition, though this is a step in the right direction and Lasko is in good spirits.” Lasko suffered a spinal injury in a collision with a teammate while playing in Frisco at the end of June. 


Hi-A: Hub City 6, Greensboro (PIT) 10
Hub City: 4 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 15 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 6-16, 8 GB, 40-48 overall

SP Izack Tiger: 2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 41 P / 31 S, 17.00 ERA
RP Enrique Segura: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 7.13 ERA
RP Ismael Agreda: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 5.57 ERA
2B Casey Cook: 1-4, HR (1)
RF Hector Osorio: 1-4, HR (8), .273/.375/.504
DH Antonis Macias: 1-4, HR (3), .236/.345/.327
C Cal Stark: 1-4, HR (3), .114/.241/.257

2024 third-rounder Casey Cook made his first full-season appearance and his first in the infield since moving to outfield late in 2025. On a hot night, the teams combined for eight homers, four of which came off Izack Tiger in a span of nine batters. Tiger’s velocity is fine (mid-90s), if not at the peak seen in short bursts, and his control is solid, but the Keys loved what he was putting in the zone, especially his mid-80s breaker. 


Lo-A: Hickory 7, Wilson (MIL) 5
Hickory: 10 hits, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 16-6, 3 G up, 50-36 overall

SP Mason McConnaughey: 3 IP, 3 H (2 HR), 4 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 49 P / 28 S, 12.00 ERA
RP Luimy Munoz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1.57 ERA
SS Yolfran Castillo: 2-5, SB (41), .288/.396/.413
LF Paulino Santana: 1-3, HR (10), BB, .246/.381/.407
RF Jamaurion McQueen: 2-4

2025 4th-round righty Mason McConnaughey made his full-season debut and fourth pro appearance. He’d undergone elbow surgery after three starts as a junior for Nebraska in ’25. As is common if not custom, the Rangers weren’t dissuaded and picked him 115th overall. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: not Corniell
AA: Pence
Hi-A: Scarborough
Lo-A: Nivar

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Off an IL stint, Justin Foscue homered for the sixth time in five games. I would later joke (or half-joke) that Texas should have traded him right then. That would have been ridiculous, though. Texas was dreadful in 2021, working on a rebuild, using Nick Solak at 2nd and Brock Holt and Charlie Culberson at third (a potential spot for Foscue at the time). 

Down East played as the Kinston Collard Greens. I wish I’d bought a shirt.