The Rangers are still chasing a postseason spot, but a few familiar names have already taken on new uniforms and, in some cases, new struggles. From a catcher bouncing through three clubs to a former infield anchor whose numbers have slipped, here’s a look at four ex-Rangers and where things stand now.
Nathaniel Lowe’s path this season has been especially busy. Texas moved on from him after the 2024 season by trading him to the Washington Nationals, but his run in Washington never got going.
He put up a .665 OPS over 119 games there before being designated for assignment and released. The Boston Red Sox then brought him in for the rest of the 2025 season, and he responded with a strong .790 OPS across 34 games.
Boston still chose not to keep him, non-tendering Lowe in the offseason. He landed with the Cincinnati Reds on a minor-league deal, then earned an Opening Day roster spot after a strong spring.
The Reds dealt him to the Guardians on Aug. 3.
Lowe was productive in Cincinnati, hitting .266/.341/.480, but has cooled in Cleveland, where he’s at .226/.262/.376 so far.
Jonah Heim’s year has also featured a quick change of scenery. After the Rangers non-tendered him, he signed with the Atlanta Braves in February, and Atlanta had a need behind the plate because of multiple catching injuries.
That stay didn’t last long. The Braves designated Heim for assignment in early May after he hit .231/.311/.410 over 12 games, then traded him to the Athletics.
With Oakland, Heim has posted .212/.267/.392 with 12 home runs over 79 games this year.
Marcus Semien is another former Ranger now wearing a different uniform, after Texas sent him to the Mets for outfielder Brandon Nimmo in the offseason. So far, that move has tilted in the Rangers’ favor. Semien has been worth -0.1 fWAR this year, while Nimmo has produced 2.2 fWAR.
Semien also missed about a month with a left hip flexor strain, and the overall numbers have lagged. He’s hit .216/.281/.345 over 121 games this season.
His defense has slipped too, with -1 Defensive Runs Saved and -6 Outs Above Average over 1,043 2/3 innings at second base. Last year, he finished with +5 DRS and +6 OAA across 1,108 1/3 innings.
Adolis García’s season has gone off the rails as well. Texas non-tendered García in the offseason, and he signed with the Phillies. He managed only .195/.270/.329 over 67 games in Philadelphia before going on the injured list in June with a season-ending right latissimus dorsi tear.
In Other News...
Rangers Catcher Situation Just Got More Complicated With Higashioka Back
Kyle Higashioka is back on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock, starting as a designated hitter after spending time on the injured list with a right flexor strain. For the Rangers, that adds another layer to a catching picture that has already been shifting around, with Higashioka working his way back after being out since July 21 and the club monitoring how it fits together behind the plate.
The timing matters because Texas is also dealing with a setback on the pitching side, as Caden Scarborough will be shut down for four to six weeks with a right elbow strain. At the same time, Cal Quantrill has been giving the staff a lift with back-to-back quality starts against league-leading teams, so the Rangers are trying to balance a healthier-looking catching corps with the reality that one more arm has gone missing. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Quantrill's Rise Just Created A Rangers Rotation Squeeze
Cal Quantrills path with the Rangers has gone from low-risk depth move to one of the more useful stories on the roster. Signed to a minor-league deal, he started the season in Triple-A and only got his shot because injuries opened up a spot in the rotation for Nathan Eovaldi and Jack Leiter. Instead of simply holding the job together, Quantrill has become the clubs most effective starter and was rewarded with Player of the Month honors for August after putting together a strong run on the mound.
That kind of turnaround has a way of changing the conversation around a pitchers future, especially for a team always balancing immediate needs with the next wave of arms. If the Rangers decide Quantrill belongs in the picture beyond this season, it could have a ripple effect on the shape of the 2027 rotation and on younger starters such as Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter, with MacKenzie Gore also part of the broader long-range discussion. What began as a temporary fix now looks like a decision point the organization may not be able to avoid for long. [Read more 🡒]
Jack Leiter Setback Leaves Rangers With A Bigger Rotation Concern
Jack Leiters road back has hit another snag, and it comes at a time when the Rangers could have used another option in the rotation picture. Leiter has been shut down from his rehab work because of a biceps issue and is now continuing his recovery at the clubs facility in Surprise, Arizona, a development that makes a return as a starter this season look increasingly remote.
There is some movement elsewhere on the injury front, though the timing remains uneven. Josh Jung ran bases for the first time since his calf injury and may be headed toward live batting practice and a rehab assignment soon, while Nathan Eovaldi completed a bullpen session and could move to live batting practice early next week if everything keeps trending well. [Read more 🡒]