The Rangers introduced a collection of roster strikes at the moment, most notably optioning utility participant Ezequiel Duran to Triple-A Spherical Rock. The crew chosen outfielder Derek Hill to take Duran’s place on the lively roster, whereas designating right-hander Yerry Rodríguez for project to open an area on the 40-man. The crew additionally activated Justin Foscue from the 60-day IL and optioned the 25-year-old infielder to Triple-A. To unencumber one other spot on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Cole Winn was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL.
Duran, 25, was a productive hitter for final yr’s World Sequence-winning squad, hitting .276/.324/.443 (107 wRC+) with 14 homers and eight steals whereas logging defensive time in any respect 4 infield positions and each outfield corners. He’s continued to bounce all around the diamond in 2024, however his offensive contributions have withered significantly. In 187 plate appearances, Duran is hitting .256/.294/.324 (74 wRC+) with simply two homers.
Issues have gone significantly poorly for Duran as of late. Because the calendar flipped to June, he’s turned in a depressing .211/.219/.296 batting line with only one stroll in 73 plate appearances. Whereas he’s really minimize his strikeout price a bit from final season, the general high quality of Duran’s contact this season has plummeted. His ground-ball and infield-fly charges have each spiked, whereas his common exit velocity has dropped by practically three miles per hour and his hard-hit price has cratered (43.9% in 2023, 36.6% in 2024). The Rangers absolutely nonetheless view him as a possible long-term contributor — he’ll be controllable for 4 seasons past the present yr (or 5 if he doesn’t return to the majors for at the least 10 days) — however are taking the chance to provide him a reset and get him again on monitor within the minors.
Hill will begin this afternoon in heart subject towards the Brewers. The previous first-round choose (Tigers, 2014) signed a minor league deal over the winter and had a quick stint with Texas earlier this season, going 2-for-9 in restricted motion earlier than being designated for project and outrighted to Spherical Rock. He’s placing up monster numbers in Triple-A, slashing .350/.415/.631 with eight homers, a dozen doubles, 4 triples and 7 steals (in eight makes an attempt).
The Rangers’ lineup has been reeling of late, with heart fielder Leody Taveras (who’s out of minor league choices and may’t be despatched down with out being designated for project himself) struggling specifically. After a really productive month in Might, he’s hitting simply .121/.194/.167 in June. Hill will begin in his place at the moment and will see additional alternatives as Texas appears to inject some life right into a struggling offense.
Rodriguez, 26, pitched 17 innings out of the Rangers’ bullpen this season however has been rocked for a 6.88 ERA, due in no small half to a bloated 14.1% stroll price and large 2.65 HR/9 mark. The 96.6 mph common on his heater this season is a formidable mark however nonetheless down from final yr’s 97.2 mph mark in a season that additionally noticed the righty battle in a restricted pattern of innings.
In all, Rodriguez has totaled 31 2/3 innings for the Rangers over the previous three seasons however been touched for a 7.11 earned run common. His lack of command has undercut the ability of his arsenal, evidenced by the truth that he hasn’t missed practically as many bats as one would assume for a pitcher whose fastball lives within the higher 90s. Rodriguez has fanned solely 18.9% of his large league opponents towards a tough 11.5% stroll price. He’s usually missed bats and racked up strikeouts within the higher minors, however ability hasn’t carried over to the large league stage.
The Rangers will now both commerce Rodriguez or place him on waivers inside the subsequent 5 days. Waivers could be a further two-day course of. Inside per week’s time, he’ll know the result of his DFA. He’s in his last minor league choice yr, so a brand new membership that acquires him may ship Rodriguez to Triple-A without having to first move him by waivers themselves.
Foscue, the No. 14 general choose in 2020, went 1-for-2 earlier this season in his MLB debut however has been out greater than two months with an indirect pressure. He’s a bat-first infield prospect who may finally be referred to as upon to assist the lineup himself, however he’s nonetheless performed in solely 4 Triple-A contests throughout his rehab stint. He went 1-for-8 in that point and drew a hearty eight walks as properly. He’s batted .263/.398/.462 in 595 Triple-A plate appearances courting again to 2023.
Winn, one other former first-round choose, landed on the IL with shoulder discomfort final week and can now be out by at the least mid-August. His prospect inventory has pale as he’s struggled within the higher minors. Texas used him in a bullpen function earlier this season however noticed the 24-year-old battle with an ERA north of seven.00 in 17 1/3 innings.
