AAA: Round Rock 7, at Albuquerque (COL) 3
Round Rock: 10 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 20-17, 6 GB, 54-58 overall
SP Cory Abbott: 5 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 2 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 82 P / 53 S, 7.49 ERA
RP Caleb Boushley: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1.27 ERA
3B Cody Freeman: 3-5, 2 2B, HR (18), .331/.377/.545
1B Justin Foscue: 3-4, 2B, HR (12), BB, .261/.355/.463
Round Rock took six of seven at Albuquerque by an aggregate score of 60-35. The ‘Topes are a little unlucky to be 46-67, but they’re always bad, so whatever. Barring a turnaround, Albuquerque is headed for a tenth-straight losing season as a Colorado affiliate and seventh straight at least 14 games under .500. That takes commitment.
Texas signed 33-year-old catcher Omar Narvaez, who’d recently played for the White Sox (mostly minors) and Astros (minors only). Earlier, Texas had signed catcher Elih Marrero, who played two games from the Express before heading to Frisco. Narvaez in particular is depth for the Rangers. Prior to their arrival, injury options were Cooper Johnson and Cody Freeman (after fishing his mask and glove out of the shed where they’ve sat the last two years).
After a nice week in New Mexico, Justin Foscue’s slash since being optioned is similar to his overall line. Absent injuries, I can’t imagine him returning, even if Texas plunges completely out of contention. In such a case, I’d guess Jake Burger and Joc Pederson would continue to play regularly with the idea of getting straightened out heading into 2026 (or, more pessimistically, playing their way out of Texas’s 2026 plans). Foscue has another option year in 2026, but the idea of him spending anther season in Round Rock seems unlikely at this point.
AA: Frisco 2, at Arkansas (SEA) 0
Frisco: 5 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 16-23, 8 GB, 54-53 overall
SP Jose Gonzalez: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 71 P / 48 S, 0.00 ERA
RP Larson Kindreich: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 3.35 ERA
RP Jackson Kelley: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SO, 3.15 ERA
RP Bryan Magdaleno: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.33 ERA
24-year-old righty Jose Gonzalez excelled in his AA debut, not a K-heavy as some outings but untroubled by Arkansas’ efforts. The system has harder throwers but he’ll miss with anything (low-90s fastball, slider, cutter, split).
Texas released Frisco OF Josh Hatcher. A redshirt senior sign in 2022’s 10th round from Kennsaw State, Hatcher was an old 23 by the time he grabbed a wood bat as a pro. He graduated to AA Frisco the next June stayed there for all but two games of the next two-plus years. Last year was a peak: .294/.346/.440 with 12 homers and 23 steals in 109 games. He had some pop and speed but struck out five times per walk, and that ratio increased in 2025 as his production suffered badly following a hot opening week.
Hi-A: Hub City 1, at Jersey Shore (PHI) 9
Hub City: 5 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 22-20, 1 GB, 53-54 overall
SP Kolton Curtis: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 4 BB, 2 SO, 74 P / 39 S, 5.81 ERA
3B Gleider Figuereo: 1-1, 2 BB, .205/.288/.369
Something to ponder in your free time: Who are Frisco’s position players next year? Yesterday’s lineup contained four players (Keyber Rodriguez, Frainyer Chavez, Jax Biggers, Luis Mieses) who’d previously reached minor league free agency and re-signed, and another (Marcus Smith) who can walk in a few months. Not to say one or more can’t be re-signed again, but obviously the preference is for younger guys if they’re available. At the same time, Hub City is loaded with slightly-below-average lines. Some Spartanburgers could be promoted, but nobody is forcing the issue. I was thinking about that as I prepared the Frisco-heavy “worst teams” entries a couple of weeks ago. When the farm was at a lull in the previous cycle, Frisco, and in particular Frisco’s offense, suffered the most.
Lo-A: Hickory 0, Columbia (KAN) 1
Hickory: 2 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 25-17, 5 GB, 58-49 overall
SP Ismael Agreda: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO, 75 P / 52 S, 2.60 ERA
RP Brock Porter: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.57 ERA
Ismael Agreda had a career outing, allowing a solitary baserunner while matching a previous best of eight strikeouts along with highs in whiffs (18) and innings. Per Mark Parker, Agreda was a steady 97+ and touched 100 a couple of times. I don’t know about the triple digits, but the sitting velocity isn’t anything new. Newer are improved secondaries including a worthy slider, plus occasional hints that he can harness his control. Now 21, Agreda didn’t reach full-season ball until this his fifth pro season.
Rangers Minor League History, 2007-2024
The fourth-best pitching staff during 2007-2024 was the 2011 high-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
Runs/game: 3.9 (6% better than park-adjusted league average)
ERA-: 89
FIP-: 86
Opposing OPS+: 84
The opposing OPS+ and FIP- (fielding-independent pitching) rank first in the system during this span. The Pelicans also led the lead (easily) with 8.5 strikeouts per game (average was 7.2) and homers, and they trailed the walk leader by only a handful. Oddly, the team’s actual run production was merely good. Best as I can tell, reasons include so-so defense (particularly bland at turning double plays) and having to throw 28 innings more than any other team (due to a great road record and perhaps relatively fewer seven-inning doubleheaders).
Some rotation ERAs (league average was 3.73):
Joe Wieland, 2.10
Robbie Erlin, 2.14
Robbie Ross, 2.26
Chad Bell, 2.98
Justin Grimm, 3.39
Barret Loux, Miguel de los Santos and Kennil Gomez sat right around the league average. Myrtle Beach also had some formidable relief from Johan Yan (1.52 ERA, 10 saves), Joe Ortiz (2.15 ERA, 5 saves) and Trevor Hurley (2.70 ERA, 4 saves).
The Pelicans also had the last 44 professional innings from Kasey Kiker, who spent the season there after two years in Frisco. He walked 52 in 44.2 innings and posted a 7.05 ERA. The team ERA absent him drops from 3.32 to 3.18.