Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced the organization’s minor league award winners for April:

Player of the Month – OF Leody Taveras

Starting Pitcher of the Month – LHP Cole Ragans

Reliever of the Month – RHP Marc Church

Defender of the Month – INF Maximo Acosta

Taveras, 23, posted a .377/.391/.635/1.062 (32-85) slash line with 4 home runs, 2 triples, 6 doubles, and 12 RBI over 20 games with Round Rock (AAA) in April. He led the Pacific Coast League in hits (32) and batting average (.377) for the month, and compiled a 17-game hitting streak that spanned from April 16-May 8. Taveras, who graduated from rookie and prospect status due to time spent in the Major Leagues in 2020-21, has been consistently rated among the Rangers’ top prospects since signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2015.

Ragans, 24, posted a 2.13 ERA (3 ER/12.2 IP) with 17 strikeouts over 3 starts with Frisco (AA) in April, limiting opponents to a .208 batting average. The left-hander has continued that success by winning each of his first 3 starts in May, currently holding a 3-1 record and 2.79 ERA (9 ER/29.0 IP) through 6 starts overall. For the season, he ranks among Texas League leaders in ERA (4th, 2.79) and strikeouts (5th, 36). Ragans was selected by Texas in the first round (30th overall) of the 2016 MLB Draft and entered 2022 as Texas’ no. 24 prospect according to Baseball America.

Church, 21, allowed just one unearned run over 10.2 innings (0.00 ERA) spanning 7 relief outings with Hickory (A+) in April. In those outings, he recorded 17 strikeouts against just 2 walks while limiting the opposition to a .184/.225/.211/.436 slash line (7-38). In 12 total outings this season, Church has walked just 2 of 67 (2.9%) batters faced. The Atlanta native was selected by Texas in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB Draft.

Acosta, 19, has spent this season as the starting shortstop for Down East (A), his first career action in a full-season league. In 27 total games, he has recorded 74 assists, second-most in the Carolina League. Acosta entered 2022 ranked as the Rangers’ no. 21 prospect according to Baseball America. Signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela in 2019, Acosta did not play in 2020 and missed most of 2021 due to injury, undergoing Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery on Aug. 25, 2021.