Healthy again, Rangers' Stephan proving his worth in Fall League
PHOENIX -- Josh Stephan had been through enough already. He underwent elbow surgery as a freshman pitcher at South Grand Prairie (Texas) High School, and two later knee surgeries limited his amateur career further. Just when he was breaking out as a senior in 2020, that season was cut short
Start your wagons: Hickory unveils the Goat-Karts
During last month’s MiLB Awards Show on the MLB Network, the Jersey Diners won the “Best Alternate Identity” award. This alter-ego of the Somerset Patriots triumphed over the Great Lakes Pontooners, Spokane King Carl, Biloxi King Cakes, Wichita Chili Buns, Chattanooga Wreckers and Winston-Salem Hype Hens. Now it’s time to
Crawdads auctioning jerseys worn by stars to raise money for Helene relief
In the wake of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina-based Hickory Crawdads are giving back. The Single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers launched an online auction Wednesday featuring over 80 game-worn player jerseys. The auction runs through Saturday, Oct. 12, with all proceeds benefiting Red Cross Hurricane
Here's the '24 All-MiLB Prospect Team
Just think of some of the big numbers put up in the Minors this year -- 40 homers, 104 stolen bases, 202 strikeouts -- and they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Terrific performances came in a variety of shapes and sizes during the 2024 Minor League season. To celebrate
The best Minor League ballpark promotions happening in September
Welcome to Promo Preview, a monthly roundup of Minor League Baseball promotions to look forward to. The season ends in September (dates vary, depending on the level of play), so don’t delay. Get out to the ballpark today and take advantage of theme nights and giveaways such as these:
Kumar rocks Round Rock debut with career-high 10 strikeouts
There was nothing rocky about Kumar Rocker's introduction to Triple-A. In fact, the Rangers' top pitching prospect worked his deepest outing of the 2024 campaign in his Round Rock debut. Rocker -- Texas' 2022 first-rounder, who had a delayed start to his second pro season as he rehabbed from Tommy
Here are 11 great ways to beat the heat with Minor League Baseball
Welcome to the dog days of summer. The races for postseason spots are coming into focus in the Majors. In the Minors, top prospects are eyeballing September roster expansions. Whether you're holding on tight to the long days and balmy nights or patiently waiting for the leaves to fall and
Leiter dials up the heat for Round Rock
Triple-A Round Rock pitching coach Dave Borkowski could just tell from watching Jack Leiter warm up that his right-handed fireballer was about to have a great outing. “Dialed in” from the outset, he carried that mindset into a short-but-mighty outing featuring a lot of strikeouts and two 100 mph pitches.
Ben says farewell DEWD to Grainger Stadium
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. The following ballpark road trip recap is presented by Wyndham, proud sponsor of Minor League
Road to The Show™: Rangers’ Walcott
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at top Rangers prospect Sebastian Walcott. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. Sebastian Walcott put his name among some elite company
Rocker dials it up in Double-A debut for Frisco
It had been 442 days since Kumar Rocker last pitched in a game for a full-season affiliate. With a layoff of that length, any sort of comeback performance would be deemed an accomplishment. But on Friday night, the Rangers’ No. 3 prospect made a statement, striking out four batters in
Hub City to play in South Atlantic League beginning in 2025
We are excited to announce that we will be playing in the South Division of the South Atlantic League starting in 2025! Get ready for local rivalries and some fun times at Fifth Third Park! Be on the lookout for our 2025 scheduled coming soon! More info from MiLB's official
All-Star Futures Game, Skills Showcase FAQs
Forty-nine of MLB’s top prospects will compete at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday in the All-Star Futures Game. This year’s iteration, which marks the 25th anniversary of the contest, will feature the first-ever Futures Skills Showcase, a three-challenge event that will test participants’ precision and power at
Ranking the best tools in the Futures Game
Since its 1999 debut at Fenway Park, the All-Star Futures Game has showcased baseball's best prospects. Joe Mauer will become the first Futures Gamer inducted into the Hall of Fame in a couple of weeks. Mookie Betts, Miguel Cabrera, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout, Justin Verlander and many others
Marvelous promos Taylor Swift fans will love
It’s Pop Girl Summer! Are you ready for it? Teams from across the Minors are celebrating pop stars, friendship bracelets and mascots reclaiming ownership of their work. And some teams are in their ERA era. Fans of all levels can enjoy these specialty games, whether they're a Swiftie or have
Kinsler, Fielder named Futures Game coaches
Two former Rangers All-Stars have been added to the coaching staffs for the 2024 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington. Once traded for each other, Ian Kinsler and Prince Fielder will find themselves in opposite dugouts for the 25th edition of the Futures Game on July
Beltré, Young named All-Star Futures Game managers
2024 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Adrian Beltré and star infielder Michael Young both left their mark on the MLB All-Star Game with the Texas Rangers. Beltré was a three-time selection with the Rangers while Young made seven All-Star appearances, trailing only Ivan Rodriguez (10) for the most in
These are the best June ballpark promos
Welcome to Promo Preview, a monthly round-up of Minor League Baseball promotions to look forward to. June highlights include iconic socks, bipedal cows, regional food battles and, of course, much more. Dive in.
Well done: Texas affiliate debuts Hub City identity
Spartanburg’s nickname is the Hub City, the people who live there are known as Spartanburgers and, hey, come to think of it, who doesn’t love a good burger? Add it all up and you have the name of the South Carolina metropolis’ new Minor League Baseball team: the Hub City
Wood Ducks' Figuereo on path to carving legacy
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Gleider Figuereo grew up in Las Matas de Farfán, Dominican Republic, with two former Rangers pitchers as his role models: his dad, Victor, and former Major Leaguer Edinson Volquez. Unlike his dad or Volquez, Figuereo showed potential at the plate and a love for playing the infield,
Watch for these 10 Complex league prospects
The Rookie-level Arizona Complex and Florida Complex leagues began play Saturday, a month earlier than they did a year ago. The changes mean that the circuits will be populated more by players making the jump from the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League the season before and less by guys coming out
The keys to Leiter's rise through the Minors
It’s time to officially add another member of the Leiter lineage to the ranks of Major League Baseball. When Rangers skipper Bruce Bochy announced Tuesday morning that Jack Leiter, whom the club chose with the second overall pick in the 2021 Draft, would be making his big league debut Thursday
Leiter carves up bats in 2024 debut for Round Rock
On a night that was headlined by Rangers pitcher Michael Lorenzen making a rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock, it was Texas’ No. 8 prospect Jack Leiter who stole the show on the mound. Leiter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 Draft, twirled five innings of relief, striking
Honoring Black baseball's rich and storied history
When Jackie Robinson made his debut as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in Spring Training of 1946, his jersey number was not the 42 he'd come to be associated with. That spring in Daytona Beach, and throughout the ensuing season with the Triple-A Montreal Royals, he wore number
Road to The Show™: Rangers’ Langford
MiLB.com's Road to the Show, Scouting Report edition, spotlights players who are just starting their professional careers, focusing on what the experts are projecting for these young phenoms. Here's a look at second-ranked Rangers prospect Wyatt Langford. For more player journeys on The Road to The Show, click here. It’s