Inside The Rangers

Rangers to Promote Veteran Slugging First Baseman on Minor League Contract

The Texas Rangers added a veteran first baseman on a minor league deal earlier this month, and now they're reportedly promoting him to the Major League roster.
Kyle Morton|
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.
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. | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

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Texas Rangers

According to a report from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Texas Rangers are promoting veteran first baseman Rowdy Tellez to the team's Major League roster.

Tellez, who joined the organization on a minor league contract earlier this month, would step in for the injured Jake Burger, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left quad strain on Wednesday night.

More News: Rangers Move Slugger Jake Burger to Injured List with Quad Strain

A 30-year-old native of California, Tellez began the season with the Seattle Mariners, where he produced a slash line of .208/.249/.434 across 62 games while hitting 11 home runs.

While Tellez's numbers are down compared to his career norms this season, his 11 home runs would put him in a tie for fifth on the Rangers with Burger, who has played in 13 more games.

Tellez hit 13 home runs in 2024 while a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but his best campaign came in 2022 in the midst of a three-year tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers.

More News: Moving On From Embattled Star Slugger Would Be Smart Move for Rangers

That season, he hit 35 homers and drove in 89 runs while posting a .767 OPS.

In a career that began in 2018 with the Toronto Blue Jays, Tellez has clubbed 116 home runs and owns a career slugging percentage of .436.

Despite the fact that Tellez has not been at his best this season, the move could still serve to spark a dormant Rangers offense.

More News: Rangers Made Incredible Gesture To Ace Starting Pitcher Nathan Eovaldi

Texas currently sits 25th in all of MLB in team OPS, a factor that has derailed a season that could be going swimmingly thanks to consistently outstanding efforts from the team's pitching staff.

For more Rangers news, head over to Rangers On SI.

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Kyle Morton
KYLE MORTON

Kyle Morton has covered various sports from amateur to professional level athletics. A graduate of Fordham University, Kyle specializes in MLB and NHL coverage while having previous bylines with SB Nation, The Hockey Writers, HighSchoolOT, and Sports World News. He spent time working the beat for the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes and is an avid fan of the NHL, MLB, NFL and college basketball. Enjoys the outdoors and hiking in his free time away from sports.

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