Utility man Cam Cauley has been added to the active roster. Cauley was a serious contender for 40 protection last fall, but Texas successfully bet that he’d slide through the Rule 5 draft. After a great spring, Cauley has taken some time acclimating to AAA, increasing his average and slugging each month and hitting .262/.363/.407 (97 OPS+) with eight homers and 29 steals in 29 attempts overall. Against lefties, he’s batting a formidable .318/.404/.500, and you’re surely aware of Evan Carter’s struggles against them.
Impressively, Cauley is striking out less in AAA than any prior level. He fanned 32% of the time at the A levels in 2023, surely a concern, but has brought that down to 21.3%. He’s also availed himself of he robot-assisted AAA strike zone to walk a career-high 13% of his plate appearances. His exit velocity data resides a little below the league averages, and the monthly improvement in his slash stats doesn’t show up in these indicators. Cauley has done a great job of avoiding chases against breakers and changes, although he does tends to swing at and miss four-seamers more often than the league average. His launch angles match the league, and he hits nearly equally to all fields. He’s started 27 games at short, 21 in center, 13 at second and ten at third.
A few days ago, someone texted me to ask if he was ready, and I answered “I think he’d be okay. I don’t think he’d materially improve the team’s fortunes but as a standard bench guy, sure.” I hadn’t delved into the Statcast data when I wrote that, but doing so hasn’t altered my opinion. His overall bat profile does read a little light at present, but he does gain considerably against lefties.
Also, the Rangers have sign righty Chris Paddack to a Major League deal. Paddack has a 5.27 ERA during the 2020s and has been released twice already this season. I wouldn’t bet any of my money or much of yours that he’d be an upgrade to Cal Quantrill, but the Rangers are in a situation. Paddack would appear to be a placeholder for Jordan Montgomery, although I suppose he could maintain some role if he suddenly performs better. Assuming he’s designated before long, perhaps his Austin upbringing would entice acceptance of a stay in Round Rock, where he could work on improving his stock.Texas had an open 40 spot and could also have placed Jack Leiter on the 60-day IL. Instead, Texas designated both OF Jarred Kelenic and RHP Joe Ross for assignment.
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 6, at Tacoma (SEA) 1
Round Rock: 11 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 4-2, 1 GB, 35-46 overall
SP Jose Corniell: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 61 P / 40 S, 5.58 ERA
RP Ryan Lobus: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 4.50 ERA
CF Josh Smith: 2-5, HR (2), .224/.309/.397
1B Jonah Bride: 1-4, HR (9), BB, .270/.392/.429
Jose Corniell made his first start since being optioned. He only missed four bats out of 29 swings but wasn’t hit too hard.
Three of Round Rock’s starters last week weren’t in the organization when the season started. The Express took four of six on the road nonetheless, a fine start to the second half.
OF Gilberto Celestino and RHP Michel Otanez have been suspended for their activities in Saturday’s bench-clearing brawl. Joining them from the Rainiers are IF Patrick Wisdom (who, among other misapprehensions, thought Emiliano Teodo deliberately plunked him with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the 9th), OF Spencer Packard and LHP Jhonathan Diaz. I’m unsure of the length of the suspensions. 
AA: Frisco 4, at Amarillo (ARI) 18
Frisco: 5 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 19 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 3-3, 1.5 GB, 42-32 overall
SP Dylan MacLean: 4 IP, 5 H (3 HR), 5 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 70 P / 44 S, 4.29 ERA
RP Bryan Magdaleno: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 2.40 ERA
SS Frainyer Chavez: 1-3, HR (11), BB, .306/.411/.495
CF Dylan Dreiling: 1-4, HR (11), .284/.367/.453
C Malcolm Moore: 1-2, 2 BB, .263/.341/.500
LF Marcus Lee Sang: 2-4, HR (8), .285/.356/.447
I’d like to be able to tell you that the final two innings were thrown by infielder Frainyer Chavez or chief voice Zach Bigley or a prairie dog, but no, everything scored against an actual pitcher. One of those summer days in Amarillo.
Dylan Dreiling is one homer shy of last year’s total. In 2025, he batted .226/.319/.381, good for 113 OPS+ in the low-offense Sally League, but he was sitting at just .201/.299/.329 in mid-August. This year, I can’t can’t find a slump longer than a week, and that’s not really a slump, just baseball. 
Hi-A: Hub City 4, Winston-Salem (CHW) 1
Hub City: 6 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 3 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 4-5, 2 GB, 38-37 overall
SP D.J. McCarty: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 7 SO, 88 P / 52 S, 5.05 ERA
RP Owen Proksch: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.50 ERA
RP J’Briell Easley: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 5.40 ERA
RF Maxton Martin: 2-4, HR (7), .216/.279/.388
An ordinary game with just three walks issued by the good guys.
J’Briell Easley appeared in relief, probably just to get some work in. His Tuesday start lasted just 1.1 innings, and the week before was only 0.2 Unlike those starts, yesterday was quick and effective.
Right now, Max Martin is enduring the lesser portion of Dreiling’s 2025 and could use Dreiling’s late-season boost. He’s hit 26 infield flies, already more than all of last year, and he has the second highest percentage of infield flies (relative to all flies) in all of high-A. Once in a long while, one of those will hit the turf, but otherwise they’re basically elaborate strikeouts. He’s still fairly young for the level.
Tomorrow is the perfect day for Martin the get that boost, because Hub City visits Asheville this week. The Tourists have allowed 10.6 runs per game and a .328/.442/.610 opposing line at home. 
Lo-A: Hickory 4, Hill City (CLE) 9
Hickory: 8 hits, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 8-1, 1 G up, 42-31 overall
SP Evan Siary: 5 IP, 8 H (2 HR), 4 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 66 P / 49 S, 3.94 ERA
RF Braylin Morel: 3-4, HR (1), .222/.236/.352
Hickory will be, at best, 65-1 in the second half.
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Tyler Phillips had another walk-heavy start for the Express. The rookie squad began its schedule with an 11-3 loss to the Royals. Of the six players I mentioned, only IF Max Acosta remains in professional ball to my knowledge.
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