Rangers Make Slew of Roster Moves prior to Series Opener vs St. Louis
Rangers make multiple Roster moves as they continue to find a concrete bullpen setup while they also await the return of Corey Seager and company.
The Texas Rangers continued to shuffle their pitching staff and roster on Monday, announcing a flurry of moves as they look to shore up a bullpen currently sitting just 2.5 games back of first place.
Headlining the transactions is the promotion of left-hander Robby Ahlstrom, who earns his first big-league call-up from Triple-A Round Rock. Ahlstrom, a former Oregon standout and seventh-round pick, joined the Rangers organization in 2022 as part of the trade that sent catcher Jose Trevino to the New York Yankees.
The southpaw has been a steady climber through the system, posting a career 3.70 ERA across 301.1 minor league innings. However, he truly found his stride this season in Round Rock. In 21 appearances, Ahlstrom dominated to the tune of a 2.76 ERA over 29.1 innings. The Rangers hope his arrival provides a stabilizing presence in a relief corps that has seen significant turnover this spring.
Joining Ahlstrom in the bullpen is Luis Curvelo, who returns for his second stint with the Major League club this season. Curvelo has struggled to find consistency at the top level, posting a 5.63 ERA over 14 appearances during the last two seasons. With the division race tightening, the right-hander will be under pressure to prove he can provide reliable middle-relief innings.
On the offensive side, the Rangers activated Cody Freeman from the injured list following a successful rehab assignment. Freeman struggled in his MLB stint last season, hitting just .228 with a .600 OPS, but he forced the front office's hand by scorching Triple-A pitching this year. At Round Rock, Freeman posted a .333 average and a massive 1.084 OPS. With stars Corey Seager and Josh Smith currently on the IL, Freeman is expected to see immediate opportunities to inject some much-needed life into the Rangers’ lineup.
To make room for the new additions, the Rangers made the following roster adjustments:
- Robert Garcia (LHP): Transferred to the 60-day injured list. Garcia has been sidelined since April 23 with left shoulder inflammation.
- Chris Martin (RHP): Placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement. The veteran, who is approaching his 40th birthday, has struggled significantly this season with a 7.84 ERA. This latest injury raises questions about his long-term role in the Texas bullpen.
- Gavin Collyer (RHP): Optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. Despite the move, Collyer has been effective this season, recording a 3.71 ERA in 18 appearances. He is expected to remain high on the depth chart for future recalls.
- Sam Haggerty (INF/OF): Placed on the bereavement/family medical emergency list.
As the Rangers prepare for their next series, the spotlight will be on Ahlstrom and Freeman to see if the fresh faces from Round Rock can provide the spark needed to overtake the division lead.
