Heath Criswell
Lifelong Rangers fan with a passion for the farm system. When I’m not covering minor league baseball, I’m enjoying time with my family and exploring the Rangers' next big stars.
Texas Rangers prospect Josh Stephan impressed in the AFL
The Arizona Fall League (AFL) season wrapped up on Saturday, with the Surprise Saguaros falling short in a 3-2 loss to the Rafters in the AFL Championship game. Despite the loss, Texas Rangers pitching prospect Josh Stephan definitely made a mark on the AFL this season. Standing at 6'3" and weighing 185 pounds, Stephan turned heads with his performance in the AFL regular season, earning the honor of starting the championship game for the Saguaros. The Saguaros are a collection of prospects fro
Josh Smith Wins Silver Slugger: Rangers’ Utility Shined in 2024
Josh Smith’s versatility and reliability at the plate have earned him well-deserved recognition. After stepping up for the Texas Rangers in a year marked by key injuries across the infield, Smith was awarded the American League Silver Slugger at the utility position, an impressive accomplishment for a player who adapted to multiple roles with seamless ease. Smith, now 27, made his mark by hitting .258 with 13 home runs across 592 plate appearances — more than doubling his previous season high.
Rōki Sasaki and the Texas Rangers: Could Japan’s Ace Join the Rotation in 2025?
The Texas Rangers have an exciting opportunity this offseason with the news that Rōki Sasaki, widely regarded as Japan’s top pitching talent, is coming to MLB. The Chiba Lotte Marines announced they’ll make Sasaki available via the posting system, giving the Rangers (and every other MLB team) a chance to add this incredible arm to their rotation. As a Rangers fan, the thought of adding Sasaki to our rotation is incredibly exciting, especially given the bargain he’d be compared to the usual c
Texas Rangers Add Reliever Luis Curvelo to Strengthen Bullpen in 2025
As Texas Rangers fans, we've all seen how much the bullpen needs help—and it looks like the front office is making moves to address it. The Rangers are closing in on a deal with 24-year-old right-handed reliever Luis Curvelo, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. This isn't just any signing; it’s expected to be a major league contract, showing that the Rangers see real potential in this young arm. Just last week, Morosi described Curvelo as "one of the most popular free agents" at the GM Meet
Performances from Texas Rangers Prospects in the Arizona Fall League
With the Arizona Fall League (AFL) wrapping up, the Texas Rangers prospects on the Surprise Saguaros roster (14-7) have made notable impressions. There isn’t much time left to improve their stats, with the AFL Play-In Semifinals set for Friday, November 15, and the Championship game the day after. Here’s a breakdown of their current stats—and some thoughts on what they mean for these players. Hitters Alejandro Osuna, CF (22 years old) Osuna’s numbers speak volumes: a .364/.512/.561 slash line
The Texas Rangers Should Sign Juan Soto
As part of a series of our armchair GM pieces, I wanted to dive into a hypothetical, highly unlikely, yet intriguing idea: why the Texas Rangers should pursue one of the game’s best talents, Juan Soto. While it may sound far-fetched, Soto is still in his prime, and securing his talents would push the Rangers to having the best lineup in baseball. Can you imagine a lineup consisting of Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Juan Soto, Wyatt Langford and Adolis Garcia? Of course, I'd be counting on a bounc
Hickory Crawdads Reveal New Goat-Karts Identity
Today, the Hickory Crawdads officially unveiled their new Goat-Karts identity, adding a fresh and unique look to their lineup of team theme night identities, which also includes the Llamas de Hickory, Couch Potatoes and Hickory Dickory Docks. Hickory’s early growth was fueled by the wagon-making industry, with the Piedmont Wagon Company playing a pivotal role in the city’s development. At its peak, the company was producing over 1,000 wagons per month, which were recognized by their dark green
Some Texas Rangers Prospects Who Impressed in 2024
Every season, a number of prospects manage to catch everyone by surprise with their standout performances, and 2024 was no different. This year, several Texas Rangers prospects turned heads with their unexpected rises. To get a broader perspective, I asked contributors to name the players who impressed them the most—aside from the more well-known names like Kumar Rocker and Sebastian Walcott. Here are the prospects who made the biggest impression in 2024. This isn't an exhaustive list, as many
Three Texas Rangers Prospects on MLB Pipeline’s Updated Top 100 List
The Texas Rangers continue to build a future that looks so bright that you'll need to put on your sunglasses if you look more than a few sect. Not surprising that three of the Texas Rangers top prospects have earned spots on MLB Pipeline’s updated Top 100 list they released a few days ago: Sebastian Walcott (No. 23), Kumar Rocker (No. 58), and Alejandro Rosario (No. 86). Each of these players has taken a significant step forward in their development this season, making a strong case for why they
Banana Ball World Tour Heads to Frisco in 2025: Rules, Fun, and Ticket Info
The Savannah Bananas’ highly anticipated Banana Ball World Tour is set to make a stop in Frisco, Texas, on September 5th & 6th, 2025. The event will bring the unique and entertaining version of baseball known as Banana Ball to Riders Field, featuring the Party Animals squaring off against the all-new Texas Tailgaters. While some traditionalists may have reservations about Banana Ball, it's important to remember that this fun, fast-paced version isn’t replacing baseball—it’s enhancing it. The ga