Rangers Prospect Duo Claims Minor League Player, Pitcher of Week Awards

Pitcher Jose Gonzalez and utility prospect Oliver Guerrero became the latest Texas Rangers to claim weekly minor league awards.

Jul 26, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A hat and glove of a Texas Rangers player during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

While Nathan Eovaldi was claiming the American League pitcher of the month award on Monday, two minor league players won their own awards.

Right-handed pitcher Jose Gonzalez was named the South Atlantic League pitcher of the week while throwing for the High-A Hub City Spartanburgers. First baseman and outfielder Oliver Guerrero was named the Dominican Summer League player of the week.

Both had tremendous weeks for their respective teams for July 28-Aug. 3.

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How Rangers’ Jose Gonzalez Won his Award

Gonzalez had a career performance on Sunday. He threw a career-high seven scoreless innings against the Asheville Tourists. He struck out seven, allowed three hits and didn’t walk a batter.

He threw 82 pitches, 58 of which were strikes. He was his fourth win of the season.

For the season, Gonzalez ranks among SAL qualifiers in ERA (5th, 2.83), WHIP (6th, 1.14), and opp. BA (10th, .244).

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He is 4-7 with a 2.83 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) with 90 strikeouts and 18 walks in 86 innings. He is in his fifth season of minor league baseball after he was signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela.

How Rangers’ Oliver Guerrero Won his Award

The Dominican Republic native, another international signee, is in his first season of professional baseball and is close to home with the Rangers’ DSL Red team.

Last week he went 7-for-15 (.467) with three home runs, 10 RBI, and eight walks in five games. He homered in three straight games, went 4-for-4 with a career-high 6 RBI in one game and won his first career player of the week award.

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So far this season he’s slashed .241/.378/.376 with five home runs and 27 RBI.

Neither player is among the Rangers’ Top 30 prospects at MLB Pipeline.

Recent Rangers Prospect Updates

After the MLB trade deadline, shortstop Sebastian Walcott remained the Rangers’ No. 1 prospect. Their top international signee in 2023 is just 19 years old and is playing for Double-A Frisco. He’s projected for a potential call-up to the Majors in 2026.

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Catcher Malcolm Moore, who was the Rangers’ first-round pick last year out of Stanford, is now the No. 2 prospect. He is playing with Gonzalez at Hub City.

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