Texas Rangers Announce Minor League Award Winners for April

The Texas Rangers announced the organization’s minor league award winners for April:

1. Player of the Month – OF Josh Hatcher

Hatcher, 25, slashed .373/.403/.576/.980 (22-59) with 3 home runs, 3 doubles, and 16 RBI over 15 games for Double-A Frisco in April, finishing the month ranked among Texas League qualifiers in batting average (4th), OPS (8th), RBI (T8th), and slugging percentage (9th). He recorded hits in 13 of 15 games in which he appeared while leading the club in RBI, hits (tied), and home runs (tied), including a 3-run, walk-off blast in the 9th inning of the RoughRiders’ 4-3 victory on April 27 vs. Amarillo. The left-handed batter and thrower made starts in right field (8), first base (3), designated hitter (3), and center field (one) last month, posting a .980 fielding percentage (one E/50 TC) and 2 assists. Hatcher was originally selected by Texas in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Kennesaw (Ga.) State University.

2. Starting Pitcher of the Month – RHP Winston Santos

The 22-year-old Santos went 3-1 with a 0.44 ERA (1 ER/20.2 IP) and 31 strikeouts/7 walks across 4 appearances/starts for High-A Hickory in April, closing the month by posting 19.2 straight scoreless innings after allowing his lone run in the opening frame of his season debut on April 5 at Rome. He ranked among the South Atlantic League’s April leaders (min. 20.0 IP) in ERA (1st), wins (T1st), strikeout percentage (2nd, 39.2%), strikeouts per 9.0 innings (3rd, 13.50), opp. BA (3rd, .139), and WHIP (T3rd, 0.82), and his 0.44 ERA figure was tied for the 2nd-lowest in all Minor League Baseball (min. 20.0 IP) last month behind only Low-A Clearwater’s George Klassen (0.00 ERA). The right-hander was tabbed South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for April 15-21 after tallying 5.0 scoreless frames and a career-high 12 strikeouts in his start on April 19 at Greensboro (W, 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 SO, 86 pitches/59 strikes).

He owns a lifetime 19-19 record, 4.25 ERA (126 ER/267.0 IP), and 270 strikeouts (9.1 SO/9) in 63 appearances/55 starts over 4 seasons in the Rangers farm system. The Payita, Dominican Republic was originally signed by Texas as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2019.

3. Reliever of the Month – RHP Jackson Kelley

Kelley, 24, posted no record, a 2.45 ERA (3 ER/11.0 IP), and 14 strikeouts/5 walks (11.45 SO/9) across 6 relief appearances last month. He limited opponents to a .086/200/.171/.371 (3-35) slash line in April, recording at least 4 outs in 5 of his 6 outings. The Marietta, Ga. native has combined to go 4-2, 3.93 ERA (29 ER/66.1 IP) with 94 strikeouts (12.8 SO/9) across 2 seasons in the Rangers farm system after being selected by the club in the 12th round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Mercer University.

4. Defender of the Month – OF Marcus Smith

The 23-year-old Smith did not commit an error over 23 games/21 starts in the outfield for Down East (A) in the first month of the season, handling 44 putouts with 2 outfield assists. Because of limited playing time due to injury in 2023, Smith has not committed an error since 2022. Smith has played primarily in center field this season, but has extensive experience at all three outfield spots. Acquired by Texas in a 2020 trade with Oakland, the Kansas City native is in his sixth professional season.

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