Injuries & Moves: Foscue, Anderson called up; Grossman claimed by KC
LATEST NEWS
Aug. 31: Royals claim OF/DH Robbie Grossman off waivers; INF Justin Foscue recalled from Triple-A Round Rock
The Rangers traded for Grossman on May 8 after an extended stretch of struggles against left-handed pitching early in the season. Last year with Texas, he hit .309 (34-for-110) with a .952 OPS against left-handed pitching, posting the third-highest on-base percentage and sixth-highest OPS vs. lefties in the American League (minimum 100 plate appearances).
This year, Grossman hit .281 with a .825 OPS in 49 games against lefties between the Rangers and White Sox.
Foscue, the Rangers’ No. 7 ranked prospect, hit 2-for-19 in seven big league games this season. He’s been mashing at Triple-A Round Rock, with a .276/.420/.477 slash line, nine home runs and more walks (39) than strikeouts (37) in 48 games. He has made starts defensively at second base (30), first base (15) and designated hitter (2).
Aug. 31: RHP Chase Anderson's contract selected from Triple-A Round Rock; RHP Dane Dunning optioned to Triple-A Round Rock
The 36-year-old Anderson has posted a 4.85 ERA in 27 big league appearances for the Red Sox this season. He was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on July 28 and signed a Minor League deal with the Rangers on Aug. 5. In four starts for Triple-A Round Rock, he’s posted a 6.94 ERA.
The Wichita Falls, Texas, native has appeared in 11 MLB seasons with Arizona (2014-15), Milwaukee (2016-19), Toronto (2020), Philadelphia (2021), Cincinnati (2022), Tampa Bay (2023), Colorado (2023) and Boston (2024), posting a career 4.37 ERA.
Dunning, who the Rangers acquired in a December 2020 trade that sent Lance Lynn to the White Sox, has never been optioned to Round Rock in his time with the organization. He’s posted a 5.38 ERA in 24 games (14 starts) for the Rangers this season, last appearing in relief during Friday night’s loss to the Athletics (3.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R-ER, 2 HR, HBP, 57 pitches/39 strikes). More >>
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Max Scherzer (right shoulder fatigue)
Expected return: TBD
Scherzer was placed on the injured list on Aug. 2 with right shoulder fatigue. He was initially scheduled to begin another rehab assignment on Aug. 23 with Double-A Frisco, though the Rangers announced he was scratched the night before.
What should have been a break for one turn through the rotation turned into yet another month on the shelf and multiple visits to team physician Dr. Keith Meister. Scherzer said he couldn’t even play catch, but he was adamant throughout the whole process that he didn’t have a significant injury.
He figured out that it was a nerve issue -- similar to what made him miss time earlier in the season -- caused by wacky mechanics. He adjusted his throwing motion hoping to fix the issues. Scherzer threw a light bullpen with those mechanical adjustments on Aug. 30 ahead of the Rangers’ matchup with the A’s at Globe Life Field. He said he felt great and should hopefully be out of rehab in the next week or so. More >> (Last updated: Aug. 31)
RHP Josh Sborz (right shoulder fatigue)
Expected return: TBD
Sborz was sent on a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Aug. 24. This is his third shoulder-related injury stint this season, though he has posted a 3.38 ERA in 16 innings out of the bullpen when healthy. General manager Chris Young said Sborz got an injection that will hopefully calm down the fatigue and have him in a better place going forward.
“Our hope is this is a 15-day setback for Josh, and that we'll have him pretty close to that 15-day time period,” Young said. (Last updated: Aug. 24)
RHP Tyler Mahle (right shoulder stiffness)
Expected return: TBD
Mahle recently returned to the big leagues after a long Tommy John rehab over the last 18 months. In his first three starts this season, he’s allowed seven runs in 12 2/3 innings. He struck out 10 and walked four. His velocity was slightly down in his last start against the Twins.
Manger Bruce Bochy said he’s not overly concerned about the shoulder injury, but the training staff wants to be cautious with Mahle so soon after Tommy John. (Last updated: Aug. 20)
LHP Jacob Latz (left forearm tightness)
Expected return: TBD
Latz was placed on the injured list on Aug. 4 (retroactive to Aug. 3) with left forearm tightness. He last pitched on Aug. 2 in a shaky outing, allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks over two innings.
Manager Bruce Bochy said the Rangers don't expect Latz's injury to be a long-term concern, and they feel confident he will not need Tommy John surgery. The lefty has pitched in 46 games this year, posting a 3.71 ERA in 43 2/3 innings. (Last updated: Aug. 4)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Jacob deGrom (right UCL repair surgery)
Expected return: Mid-September
deGrom made his first professional appearance since April 28, 2023, with Double-A Frisco on a rehab assignment on Aug. 22. He pitched two innings for the RoughRiders, allowing a double and a single that led to a run, but fanning three on 29 pitches.
deGrom followed that up on Aug. 27 with two scoreless innings with Triple-A Round Rock, retiring all six batters he faced while striking out two.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said at the start of the club’s homestand that deGrom will start for Triple-A Round Rock on Sept. 1 and throw about 45 pitches or three innings. Then, he will head to Double-A Frisco on Saturday, Sept. 7. If all goes well, deGrom could conceivably rejoin the Rangers rotation during the West Coast road trip between Arizona and Seattle afterward.
deGrom is working back from June 2023 Tommy John surgery. (Last updated: Aug. 30)
OF Evan Carter (lower back soreness)
Expected return: 2025
Carter, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 29, is not expected to play again this season after his last exam by a specialist revealed his sore back needs more rest.
General manager Chris Young said on July 30 that Carter was unlikely to play again this season. Carter said on Aug. 4 that he must avoid rotational activities for now, with the hope that he can start swinging a bat by late September or early October.
Carter missed seven games from May 11-17 with back soreness, but he initially returned without an IL stint. The Rangers then placed Carter on the injured list on May 28. While a return looked possible when he rejoined the club around the All-Star break and ramped up activities, Carter hasn’t felt healthy enough for a rehab stint, which prompted the shutdown. (Last updated: Aug. 4) More >>
RHP Cole Winn (right shoulder sprain)
Expected return: TBD
The Rangers announced on June 23 that Winn would go to the Major League 15-day IL with right shoulder discomfort, retroactive to June 18. Winn was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on June 18, but informed the club that he was experiencing shoulder discomfort after he rejoined the Express. Team doctors then determined that he had a right shoulder sprain, and he was moved to the 60-day IL on June 26.
His last outing before the injury was with the big league club, so his option is now voided. (Last updated: June 26)
RHP Carson Coleman (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: TBD
Coleman was selected by the Rangers in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft from the Yankees. He did not pitch in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. In 2022, Coleman was named the Eastern League “Reliever of the Year” after going 2-3 with 15 saves and a 2.86 ERA across 35 relief appearances for Double-A Somerset. (Last updated: March 9)