The Texas Rangers are bringing up Cam Cauley from Triple-A Round Rock, according to multiple reports, and he’s already with the club on the field, per the beat writers. Cauley is not currently on the 40-man roster, but there is an open spot right now. With the Rangers also reportedly signing Chris Paddack, another 40-man move will have to follow once that deal becomes official.
Cauley is 23 and was Texas’ third-round pick out of Mont Belvieu, Texas, in 2021. He didn’t draw much attention early in his pro career, but that changed last season at Frisco, where he hit .253/.325/.448 in 490 plate appearances while handling the up-the-middle spots, with catcher being the exception.
That run put him in the conversation as a possible Rule 5 protection candidate, and then as a possible Rule 5 selection after he was left off the 40-man roster. He wound up staying with the Rangers.
This spring, Cauley turned in an impressive camp, then spent the season at Round Rock. In 74 games for the Express, he has hit .262/.363/.407 in 343 plate appearances while splitting time at second base, third base, shortstop and center field.
The call-up appears aimed at giving Texas a right-handed bench bat who can move around the diamond, start against lefties when needed, and provide some late-game speed. Cauley has gone 29 for 29 on stolen base attempts this season, and he’s 168 for 190 as a professional.
The move also looks like it could fill the kind of role the Rangers expected Cody Freeman to handle this year: a young, versatile spark off the bench, at least for now.
As for the corresponding roster move, the likely options appear to be Jarred Kelenic being designated for assignment or Brandon Nimmo going on the injured list. Kelenic has seen limited action this season and doesn’t have much of a lane to more playing time, though his pinch-running appearance yesterday - when he scored from second on a wild pitch - stood out.
Nimmo, meanwhile, ran into the wall in right field while making a catch on the final play of the game and was a little shaken up. He was being reevaluated today.
In Other News...
Rangers Rotation Pressure Keeps Mounting As Veteran Starter Waits
Jordan Montgomery took another step in his return with Double-A Frisco, turning in a sharp second rehab start of the year by throwing two scoreless, hitless innings with three strikeouts and no walks. For the Rangers, it was the kind of clean outing that shows progress, even if the organization is still easing him along carefully after Tommy John surgery.
There is still plenty of runway before Montgomery is ready to help the Major League rotation, and the cautious approach matters even more with injuries already thinning the staff. Jack Leiters move to the injured list has added to the pressure, but Texas is keeping Montgomery on a measured schedule rather than rushing him into a rotation spot before he is ready. [Read more 🡒]
Wyatt Langfords Rangers Breakout Just Hit Another Frustrating Pause
Wyatt Langfords breakout seemed to be picking up real steam again for the Rangers after he returned from the injured list June 5, and the early returns were hard to miss. He had been giving Texas a much-needed boost in the middle of the lineup while also showing the kind of defensive flexibility that has made him such a valuable piece when the roster is whole.
So the timing of his latest interruption stings a little more for a club that has been trying to build on that momentum. Evan Carter came off the injured list and took Langfords spot on the roster, giving the Rangers another familiar young outfielder back in the mix while Langfords status adds another layer of uncertainty to a stretch when Texas could use its best bats on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Just Turned To Another Rotation Patch Fans Know Too Well
The Rangers are reportedly adding another arm to the rotation mix, and it comes with the kind of short-term urgency that has become familiar in Arlington. The club has an open 40-man roster spot, and the move is being framed as a major league deal, a sign Texas wants immediate help rather than a longer evaluation.
What makes the situation more interesting is the timing. The Rangers may still need to clear an active roster spot before the pitcher can be activated, and the expectation is that this is more of a bridge than a long-term fix. With Jordan Montgomery working back from rehab, the need is for someone who can take the ball in the meantime, even if only for a brief stretch. [Read more 🡒]