ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced the following roster moves prior to Thursday night’s series opener against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field:
- Left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans contract selected from Triple-A Round Rock.
- Outfielder Bubba Thompson (#65) contract selected from Triple-A Round Rock.
- Outfielder Kole Calhoun placed on 10-day Injured List, retroactive to August 3, with right heel irritation.
- Right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana placed on 15-day Injured List, retroactive to August 3, with a left ankle sprain.
- Outfielder Steven Duggar, currently on option at Triple-A Round Rock, designated for assignment.
- Outfielder Steele Walker, currently on option at Triple-A Round Rock, designated for assignment.
Ragans, 24, is scheduled to make his Major League debut as the Rangers’ starting pitcher in tonight’s game against the White Sox. He will be the first Texas pitcher to make a start for his MLB debut this season, and he will become just the third Ranger ever to debut with a start at Globe Life Field, joining Glenn Otto (Aug. 27, 2021 vs. Houston) and A.J. Alexy (Aug. 30, 2021 vs. Colorado). Alexy was also the last Texas pitcher to make a start for his Major League debut.
Ragans has combined to go 8-5 with a 3.04 ERA (32 ER/94.2 IP) over 18 games/starts with Frisco (AA) and Round Rock (AAA) this season, averaging 10.7 strikeouts per 9 innings with an opponent slash line of .216/.288/.342/.630. He has produced quality starts in 5 of 8 outings since a promotion to Round Rock in mid-June for his first Triple-A action, including quality starts in his last 3 straight for the Express: 2-0, 2.00 (4 ER/18.0 IP), 5 BB/20 SO, 1 HR, .131/.209/.230/.439 opponent slash. He last pitched on Friday vs. Sacramento (W, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R-ER, 3 BB, 6 SO, 1 HR, 88 pitches/50 strikes). The club’s first round pick (30th overall) in the 2016 MLB Draft, Ragans has overcome ‘Tommy John’ ligament replacement surgeries on his left elbow in both 2018 and 2019.
Thompson, 24, has spent the entire season at Round Rock, batting .304/.355/.474/.829 with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, 4 triples, and 48 RBI over 80 games for the Express in his first Triple-A action. The Moblie, Alabama native has gone 49-for-52 (94.2%) in steal attempts this season, easily the most steals of any player at the Triple-A level in 2022. He ranks among Pacific Coast League leaders in runs (T2nd, 77), hits (T4th, 105), batting average (6th), and total bases (9th, 164). In his last 22 games since the beginning of July, Thompson has batted .341 (31-91) with 5 home runs, 15 RBI, and a .994 OPS figure, including a 2-for-5 effort with a triple, run scored, and stolen base in the Express game last night at Sugar Land.
Thompson appeared in 7 games for the Rangers this spring, going 4-for-9 (.444) with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, 4 RBI, 2 walks, and one strikeout in Cactus League play.
He was the Rangers’ first round selection (26th overall) in the 2017 MLB Draft, signing with Texas despite Division I scholarship offers in both baseball and football.
Calhoun has batted .211 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI over 97 games in his first season with Texas, including a team-high 55 starts in right field. The first date that Calhoun would be eligible to return is August 13.
Santana has gone 3-6 with one save and a 5.09 ERA over 46 relief outings for Texas this season, ranking T4th in the American League in appearances. The first date that Santana would be eligible to return is August 18.
The Rangers have seven days to trade, release, or outright both Duggar and Walker to the minor leagues. Duggar was acquired in a June 23 trade and he batted .176 in 8 games for Texas before he was optioned to Round Rock on July 14. Walker played in 5 games during his lone stint with the Rangers from June 5-15, his first Major League action.
Following today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with two players (Mitch Garver and Eli White) on the 60-day Injured List.
From Texas Rangers PR staff reports
