CLEVELAND -- The Rangers’ ascent to the top of the American League West will feature a fresh face with a quick pair of legs.
On Monday, the club called up Cameron Cauley, who has played shortstop, third base, second base and center field with Triple-A Round Rock this season, ahead of Texas' opener against the Guardians. The club has not confirmed the news.
Cauley stole 23 bases in 74 games with Triple-A this season and posted a .262/.363/.407 slash line. His .363 on-base percentage with the Express is the best mark of his career.
A third-round Draft pick in 2021, Cauley, the Rangers' No. 13 prospect, spent the first four seasons of his career cycling between Rookie Ball, Single-A and High-A before spending last season in Double-A and 2026 in Triple-A.
Although Cauley's performance in Double-A didn’t result in a promotion to the Rangers’ 40-man roster in the offseason (he went unselected in the Rule 5 Draft), Texas’ abundance of injuries forced the hand of the Rangers’ front office..
The latest of those injuries came on Sunday when the Rangers placed outfielder Wyatt Langford on the injured list with a left hamstring strain that’s expected to keep him out until after the All-Star Break.
While Texas activated Evan Carter from the IL in a corresponding move, adding Cauley gives the club a bit more versatility and speed.
Those factors should allow for Cauley to make an immediate impact with the Rangers, who have stolen just 41 bases this season (the seventh-lowest mark in baseball). Adding him to the bench gives Texas a second utility option along with Ezequiel Durán, who has played every position but catcher this season.
Most of Cauley’s damage this season has come against left-handers (.904 OPS in 49 games), which could make him a logical platoon partner with the left-handed-hitting Carter.