Report Card
Baseball America bestowed season grades on all the farm systems based on system rank, graduations, breakouts, disappointments, injuries and key additions. Before looking, I gave Texas a C+. BA thinks I’m too generous, giving the Rangers a C-, above only three other teams and tied with two others.
That strikes me as a bit harsh, particularly since BA upped Texas’s farm ranking from 24th to 20th in a midseason update. Certainly, the most frustrating aspect is several upper-level pitchers exiting 2026 with the same questions and uncertainties as before (Teodo, Corniell, Santos). Also high on the list are the injuries to Caden Scarborough and Izack Tiger. On the other hand, Sebastian Walcott has played more and better than I expected. Guys like Josh Owens, Seong-jun Kim, Yolfran Castillo, Dylan Dreiling, Rafe Perich, Malcolm Moore, AJ Russell, Dalton Pence and Hector Osorio are better-positioned now than six months ago. I don’t think 2026 has been great, but I feel better about the system now than prior to Spring Training.
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 5, Tacoma (SEA) 6
Round Rock: 8 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 39-32, 70-76 overall, eliminated
SP Anthony Veneziano: 5 IP, 6 H (2 HR), 5 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 84 P / 52 S, 3.86 ERA
RP Carter Baumler: 2 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 1 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.42 ERA
RP Gavin Collyer: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 2.45 ERA
2B Cameron Cauley: 1-3, BB, SB (36), .273/.367/.455
DH Kyle Higashioka: 1-4, HR (1), .176/.282/.324
Carter Baumler has been a little walk-prone but otherwise solid overall in seven rehab appearances. His rehab began on the 30th of August, so it could run to the conclusion of Round Rock’s season on Sunday. Beyond that, I’m hesitant to say. Remember, as a Rule 5 pick, Baumler can’t be optioned.
Kyle Higashioka hit his first rehab homer. He’s played eight games, none behind the plate. Higgy has outhit Danny Jansen in Texas (a low bar to clear) and is a power threat against lefties, but if he can’t catch, he’s not of much use to the Rangers. He could DH against lefties (with Foscue at second), but against righties he’s what, a second right-handed bench bat after Foscue? Plus, Elias Diaz has been a better version of what Higgy provides against lefties.
Oklahoma City clinched the second-half title last night and will face Las Vegas. Round Rock cannot finish at .500 or better. 
AA: off
Frisco hosts Amarillo tonight in Game 2 of the Texas League semis. Cole Stasio will start for the Riders. Amarillo is sending ex-Ranger David Hagaman to the mound.
If you’re at the Express game tonight and see a goofball in Section 119 with a laptop and headset and coffee mug (despite the hot weather), one eye on Dalton Pence, the other on the Riders, and ears absorbing the Texas radio feed, that would be me, come say hi.
Elsewhere
The Texas Rangers are tied for first place in the AL West.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Pence
AA: Stasio
Five Years Ago Yesterday
I got my days mixed up yesterday, accidentally reporting Frisco’s win on the 14th. On the 15th, the Riders were swept in a doubleheader at Amarillo to fall out of second place and the final playoff spot. Frisco scored four in the 1st and a total of seven through the 3rd, but Amarillo pinned back-to-back fours on Cody Bradford to take the lead. Blaine Crim pushed Frisco back ahead with a two-run homer, and on came Chase Lee, drafted only two months prior, for a two-inning save. The first inning went to plan, but a single-double-single sequence brought in the tying and winning runs for the Sod Poodles. In the nightcap, Frisco couldn’t plate any of 12 runners in a 3-0 loss.
On the 16th, Frisco defeated Amarillo 4-1 while every competitor lost, regaining the second and final playoff spot with three games to play. JP Martinez hit a grand slam, and Cole Winn tossed three scoreless with five strikeouts. Meanwhile, Down East defeated a fantastic Charleston club 6-5 to claim a tie for the second-best record but not the second postseason spot because the tiebreaker favored Salem. DH Luisangel Acuna was 2-3 with a walk. High-A Hickory lost a 16th-straight game. A scheduled doubleheader after the previous day’s rain was reduced to one ordinary game. The final week of the season at Rome was pretty grim.
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