This week was full of exciting events across all levels of the Texas Rangers club. The Rangers went 3-3, with two rookies earning their first home runs. The Round Rock Express went 3-2, with a visit from the three-time Cy Young-winning pitcher Max Scherzer, who joined the Express for a rehab start on April 24th. He pitched 2.1 innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs, two home runs, and four strikeouts before coming to the end of his pitch count. It is expected that Scherzer will join the Frisco RoughRiders in Corpus Christi for his second and perhaps final rehab start on Tuesday, April 30th, before rejoining the Rangers. The Frisco RoughRiders went 3-3. The RoughRiders also had a Rangers veteran rehabbing with them as well. On Tuesday, April 23rd, World Series hero Josh Sborz made a short rehab start with the Riders for two-thirds of an inning, allowing one hit, one earned run, and striking out two. The Hickory Crawdads went 3-3, while the Down East Wood Ducks went 2-4 this week.
OF – Wyatt Langford – Texas Rangers
Wyatt Langford appeared in all six games for the Rangers this week as he takes the #1 Rangers prospect spot. Langford went 6-18 this week with three runs, three RBIs, three walks, and four strikeouts. On April 28th, the day Rangers fans have all been waiting for arrived, Wyatt Langford hit his first Major League home run. The long-awaited home run landed Langford on a short list of Major League players whose first career home run was an inside-the-park home run. He became the fifth Texas Ranger in franchise history to accomplish this feat, joining teammate Josh Smith, who hit his first career home run on July 11th, 2022, against Oakland at Globe Life Field.
INF – Sebastian Walcott – Hickory Crawdads
Sebastian Walcott played in five of the six scheduled games this week. He went 5-16 with two runs, one RBI, one home run, five walks and seven strikeouts.
RHP – Brock Porter – Hickory Crawdads.
Brock Porter’s start last week was canceled due to inclement weather. He pitched in Tuesday’s game, giving up two hits, four runs, four RBIs, six walks, and striking out three in his 3.1 innings of work.
INF – Justin Foscue – Texas Rangers
Justin Foscue remains on the 60-day injured list with an oblique injury sustained while swinging for his first Major League hit.
INF – Abimelec Ortiz – Frisco RoughRiders
Abimelec Ortiz appeared in all six of the RoughRiders’ games this week. He went 7-26 with two runs, four RBIs, no walks, and three strikeouts.
INF – Davis Wendzel – Texas Rangers
Davis Wendzel appeared in four of the Rangers’ six games this week. He went 2-4 with one run, two RBIs, one home run, and no walks or strikeouts. Wendzel accomplished his first Major League hit and his first Major League home run this week.
OF – Jonathan Ornelas – Round Rock Express
Jonathan Ornelas appeared in all five games for the Express this week. The sixth game, scheduled for April 28th, was canceled due to inclement weather. Ornelas went 5-18 with one run, one RBI, two walks and four strikeouts.
RHP – Jack Leiter – Texas Rangers
Jack Leiter had a phenomenal start this week. He pitched six solid innings of work, allowing a single hit, walking three, and striking out eight. His performance earned him the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week. His next start is expected to be May 1st, 2024.
RHP – Cole Winn – Texas Rangers
This week, Cole Winn joins our top 10 because Evan Carter graduated from a prospect to a full-fledged Major League Baseball player. He comes in at number nine based on his most recent performances for the Texas Rangers after being recalled on April 14th after Brock Burke injured himself. This week, Winn made two relief appearances for the Rangers. He pitched three innings, giving up no hits and striking out five. Winn has appeared in four games for six innings of work in his brief time with the Rangers. He has allowed no hits, no runs, walked one, and struck out seven.
INF – Cameron Cauley – Hickory Crawdads
Cameron Cauley has been notably absent from the roster this week. He was placed on the 7-day injured list on April 16th, retroactive to April 14th. While he could rejoin the team this week, he did not.
Week Ahead:
Round Rock Express (12-14)
The Round Rock Express will play the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Tuesday – 7:35 PM CDT
Wednesday – 7:05 PM CDT
Thursday – 12:05 PM CDT
Friday – 7:35 PM CDT
Saturday – 7:35 PM CDT
Sunday – 6:05 PM CDT
Frisco Rough Riders (12-9)
The Frisco Rough Riders will face off against the Corpus Christi Hooks, the Double-A affiliate of Houston Astros, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Scherzday – 6:35 PM CDT
Wednesday – 6:35 PM CDT
Thursday -6:35 PM CDT
Friday – 7:05 PM CDT
Saturday – 3:05 PM CDT
Sunday -5:05 PM CDT
Hickory Crawdads (8-12)
The Hickory Crawdads will play the Rome Emperors, the Atlanta Braves High-A affiliate, in Rome, Georgia.
Tuesday – 5:00 PM CDT
Wednesday – 10:00 AM CDT
Thursday – 6:00 PM CDT
Friday – 6:00 PM CDT
Saturday – 4:00 PM CDT
Sunday – 12:00 PM CDT
Down East Wood Ducks (10-10)
The Down East Wood Ducks will play the Fredericksburg Nationals, the Washington Nationals Single-A affiliate in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Tuesday – 5:05 PM CDT
Wednesday – 10:05 AM CDT
Thursday -5:35 PM CDT
Friday – 6:05 PM CDT
Saturday – 6:05 PM CDT
Sunday – 4:05 PM CDT
