Joc Pederson’s return to the Rangers lineup may have hit another snag, and this one comes with a broken bone.
Pederson said he has a fracture in his left hand after taking a fastball off it during Sunday’s game against Arizona, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. He found out after getting an MRI before Texas opened its three-game set against the Red Sox. Pederson described the injury as “small.”
The timing is especially awkward for Texas. Pederson wasn’t expected to start Tuesday anyway with Boston sending left-hander Patrick Sandoval to the mound, but the Rangers were hoping he could be back by Thursday when the Red Sox are set to start a right-hander. Now, that return depends on whether the swelling in his hand comes down enough for him to grip a bat.
Pederson said he wants to play through it, but he first has to get past the swelling. That gives him two days to try to make it happen. Texas entered Tuesday’s game one game behind the Houston Astros in the American League West.
Even with the injury-riddled 2025 he has already endured, Pederson has been one of the Rangers’ most productive bats this season. He’s hit .235/.329/.487 with 26 home runs and 53 RBI, and since mid-May he has handled the leadoff role against right-handed pitching. On Tuesday, Texas used catcher Elias Diaz at designated hitter.
The Rangers also made a roster move involving Michael Helman, who will begin an injury rehab assignment with the Round Rock Express. Helman has been out since June 14 with a right finger fracture suffered when he was hit by a pitch, and he is currently on the 60-day injured list. Before the injury, he hit .167/.235/.300 in 15 games with Texas.
Round Rock is in the final week of its regular season, hosting Tacoma through Sunday, which makes Helman’s rehab window a little tricky. Position players typically get seven days on assignment before being activated or having the stint extended, and with no affiliate left after Sunday, the calendar is tight.
Texas also announced its group for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, which begins in October. The eight players headed there are catcher Julian Brock, infielder Casey Cook, outfielder Paxton Kling and right-handers Alejandro Chiquillo, J'Briell Easley, Jesus Gamez, Jacob Johnson and Mason McConnaughey.
The AFL is generally reserved for some of each club’s best prospects, and in this case Johnson, Kling and McConnaughey are all Rangers Top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline.
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