The Texas Rangers are still right in the middle of a playoff chase, and that puts Sept. 1 in focus for a very specific reason: roster expansion.
When MLB teams go from 26 players to 28, the usual play is to bring up one hitter and one pitcher. If Texas follows that familiar path, two names stand out as the most likely additions for the stretch run.
On the position-player side, O’Hoppe is the one to watch. The defensive questions are still there, but the bat is doing the talking at Triple-A Round Rock. Entering Saturday’s action, he was hitting .300/.395/.571 with three home runs and 20 RBI for the Express.
Texas already has Danny Jansen and Elias Diaz behind the plate, though Jansen has struggled offensively and missed two months because of injury. Even so, the Rangers do not have room to carry three catchers before the roster opens up.
That makes O’Hoppe a cleaner fit in a hybrid role, especially because he has good splits against left-handed pitching. He could slide into a DH rotation with Justin Foscue, serve as a late-game pinch-hit option, and still catch in favorable matchups.
The Rangers see him as a long-term answer at catcher, but they also don’t want to disrupt the confidence he’s built in Round Rock. Once rosters expand, though, his bat becomes a more realistic September weapon without requiring him to play every day behind the plate.
The pitching side points to Diaz, who was signed by Texas in the offseason and didn’t make the club out of spring. He’s been throwing well enough at Round Rock to get back on the radar, provided the Rangers can clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
The 29-year-old right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in five games this month, with five strikeouts and four walks. He also posted a 0.00 ERA in three June outings and has allowed five earned runs since the start of June. The control issues that kept him off the Opening Day roster have been better lately, and that’s given him a chance to re-enter the conversation.
Texas does have other 40-man options it could turn to, including Gavin Collyer, David Davalillo and Ben Peoples. Adam Macko, who came over as the other return in the July trade with the Angels, is also in the mix. Still, Diaz’s former All-Star status and his power arm give him a case to become a real September bullpen piece if the Rangers can get him harnessed the right way.
In Other News...
Rangers Suddenly Face A Jake Burger Lineup Problem
A tense night at the ballpark brought an immediate concern for Texas when Jake Burger left the game against the Angels after a pitch caught his left wrist. X-rays came back clean, which is obviously better than the alternative, but the diagnosis still left him with a left wrist contusion and the Rangers looking at how to fill the void at first base.
Burger has been one of the more important bats in the lineup, supplying 21 home runs and 73 RBIs before the injury stopped his night in the fifth inning. Even without a fracture, a wrist issue can linger for a hitter, and Texas now has to weigh lineup adjustments while waiting to learn how quickly he can get back to being himself. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Fans Got A Powerful Reminder Of Where It All Started
Before the Rangers took on the Angels at Globe Life Field, the organization made room to celebrate one of the most important teams in franchise history. The 1996 AL West champions were honored with autograph sessions, a luncheon and a ceremonial first pitch from Ken Hill, with Ivan Rodriguez behind the plate, giving fans a chance to reconnect with the group that helped push Texas into a new era.
The gathering carried extra weight because that 1996 club was the first in Rangers history to win a division title and a playoff game, a breakthrough that still resonates nearly three decades later. Several players and staff members from that team were on hand for the celebration, a reminder of where the franchise's winning tradition really started and how much those milestones still mean in Arlington. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Just Made An Offensive Gamble Fans Need To Watch
The Rangers added some needed pop by calling up catcher Logan OHoppe from Triple-A Round Rock, a move aimed squarely at giving the lineup a boost. It also came with a roster shakeup, as outfielder Jarred Kelenic was designated for assignment, a clear sign the club is willing to make a fairly sharp turn in search of more offense.
The timing matters, too, because Jake Burger took a pitch off his wrist and dealt with swelling, even though he remains available to play. Texas is trying to keep its bats moving while managing a few moving parts at once, and OHoppes arrival gives the club another option to lean on if the offense needs a lift in the days ahead. [Read more 🡒]