Texas Rangers Minor League Affiliates Recap: April 2, 2026
Frisco and Hickory earned wins in their season openers, Round Rock suffered a tough loss, and Cody Bradford made his first rehab start.
Three of the Texas Rangers affiliates played baseball today. Frisco and Hickory had their season openers and picked up opening-day victories while Round Rock fell in a high-scoring contest.
Round Rock Express
Cody Bradford made his first rehab start for the Round Rock Express following recovery from internal brace surgery.
Bradford’s line: 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 SO, 27/17 strikes, 5 swing-and-misses. Top velocity: 91.5 mph. He gave up a couple of home runs in the second inning — one on a changeup and one on a fastball.
The Express entered the game 1-4 and finished the night 1-5 after an 8-7 loss. Luis Curvelo was tagged with the loss after pitching 1 inning.
Highlights at the plate for the Express
Cameron Cauley blasted his first Triple-A home run — 400 feet with a 106.3 mph exit velocity. I think Cam Cauley is going to be making his MLB debut some time this season.
Alejandro Osuna blasted his first home run of the year — 396 feet with a 101.6 mph exit velocity. He finished 1-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBIs.
The Express Bullpen:
Josh Sborz: 1 IP, 0 R, 1 SO, 12/7 strikes. Many have been concerned with his velocity. His Top velocity: 93.7 mph.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless inning with 2 SO, 10/9 strikes.
Tomorrow’s probables: Express RHP Josh Stephan (0-0, 3.60) vs. Stripers RHP Elieser Hernández (0-0, 5.40).
Frisco RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders defeated the Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros) 5-1 to open the 2026 season at 1-0.
Rangers No. 14 prospect RHP Leandro Lopez got the start and tossed 4.2 no-hit innings.
Lopez’s line: 4.2 IP, 0 H, 4 BB, 6 SO, 14 swing & misses, 73/40 strikes.
Third baseman Frainyer Chavez made a fantastic snag to help keep the no-hitter intact. By the end of the top of the fifth, every RoughRiders batter had at least one hit.
RHP Zach Brant, signed by the Rangers as a free agent on February 5, 2026, gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases with two outs. He then hit the next batter, accounting for the Hooks’ lone run.
RoughRiders Bullpen
Ryan Lobus earned the win after pitching 2 innings, 1 BB, 2 SO, 32/19 strikes.
Eric Loomis threw a scoreless inning: 1 IP, 1 SO, 14/9 strikes.
When asked about his slider development on media day, Eric Loomis said:
“I was struggling to scratch 83 with it last year — it was just spinning in there, holding the zone too long, we’re in the mid-to-upper 80s consistently in the zone with that, and it’s starting to punching tickets with it.”
Read the rest of the Frisco media day notes with notes from our conversations with Chad Comer, Thomas St. Clair, Eric Loomis, Dylan Dreiling, Josh Trentadue and Keith Jones II, by becoming a paying member.
Wilian Bormie also tossed a scoreless inning: 1 H, 1 SO, 17/14 strikes. He can throw triple digits.
All nine RoughRiders starters had hits, with multi-hit performances from John Taylor, Keith Jones II, Orlando Martinez and Tucker Mitchell. Mitchell had a three-hit night and added a walk.
Five Riders arms combined for 10 strikeouts. James Hicks was tagged with the loss for the Hooks.
Tomorrow’s probables: RoughRiders LHP Dylan MacLean vs. Hooks RHP Brandon McPherson.
Hickory Crawdads
The Hickory Crawdads won 5-4 over the Columbia Fireflies (Royals) on 10 hits to open the 2026 season at 1-0.
Rangers No. 8 prospect RHP Evan Siary delivered a dominate outing. Siary’s line: 4 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 8 SO, 12 swing and misses, 60/48 strikes. He was among the top leaders in swing & misses at the Low-A level.
Deward Tovar had the first hit of the season for Hickory — a single in the second. Paulino Santana followed with a double to right field. Yolfran Castillo went 2-for-3 with a run scored, including a double.
The Crawdads pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts.
The Crawdads Bullpen
Frank Martinez replaced Siary in the fifth: 0.2 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 SO, 32/18 strikes.
LHP Michael Trausch (15th-round pick in 2023) pitched 1.1 innings with 2 SO, 11 pitches (10 strikes).
LHP Geury Rodriguez earned the win: 2.0 IP, 2 BB, 4 SO, 11 swing & misses, 34/19 strikes.
RHP J.D. McReynolds (10th-round pick in 2025) shut the door for his first save: 1 IP, 1 SO, 13/10 strikes.
The lineup scored 1 run in the second, 1 in the third and 3 in the seventh. Josh Springer had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4.
RBIs: Angel Arredondo (2), Deward Tovar (1), Paulino Santana (1), Jhocsuanth Vargas (1).
Pablo Guerrero had to be helped off the field during the Crawdads recent scrimmage but was walking around tonight and appeared to be ok from what I was told. But we shall see if he's in the lineup tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s probables: Crawdads RHP Jesus Lafalaise and RHP Blake Wolters.
Hub City Spartanburgers
The Hub City Spartanburgers are the last Texas Rangers affiliate to open their 2026 season. They begin play tomorrow Friday, April 3 at Fifth Third Park with LHP Dalton Pence starting for Hub City against LHP Joseph Dzierwa of the Frederick Keys (Orioles).
