Rangers activate C Jonah Heim and RHP Jonathan Hernández, option C Sam Huff and RHP Owen White to Round Rock

RHP Josh Sborz sent to Double-A Frisco on injury rehabilitation assignment

April 23rd, 2024

Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced the following roster moves prior to Tuesday night’s homestand opener against Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field:

  • Catcher Jonah Heim activated from MLB Bereavement List.
  • Right-handed pitcher Jonathan Hernández activated from 15-day Injured List.
  • Catcher Sam Huff optioned to Round Rock (AAA) postgame on Sunday.
  • Right-handed pitcher Owen White optioned to Round Rock (AAA) on Monday.
  • Right-handed pitcher Josh Sborz sent to Frisco (AA) on injury rehabilitation assignment.

Heim was placed on the Bereavement List prior to Saturday’s game in Atlanta, as he missed the final two games of the road trip. He is slashing .264/.284/.431/.715 (19-72) with 3 home runs, 3 doubles, and 15 RBI in 18 games for Texas this season. Heim started 17 of Texas’ first 21 games at catcher before going on the Bereavement List, with the Rangers going 11-6 in his starts behind the plate. Today marked the first date Heim was eligible to be activated.

Hernández is seeking his Rangers season debut after beginning the year on the 15-day Injured List as he returned from a right lat strain. He made 8 relief appearances with Round Rock on injury rehabilitation assignment, going 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA (3 ER/10.0 IP) while averaging 12.6 strikeouts per 9 innings, as he allowed 4 walks with 14 strikeouts. He earned the save in his most recent outing on Sunday at Sugar Land (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 31 pitches/17 strikes). Hernández has spent his entire career in the Rangers organization, going 10-7 with a 3.86 ERA over 98 games/2 starts in his Major League career (2019-20, 2022-23).

Huff was recalled from Round Rock on Saturday and made his Rangers season debut as a defensive replacement on Saturday at Atlanta. He has spent the rest of the year with the Express, batting .321 (18-56) with 3 home runs, one triple, 5 doubles, and 13 RBI in 16 games for Round Rock.

White did not appear for Texas after being recalled from Round Rock prior to Friday’s series opener in Atlanta. He has posted a 0-2 record and 7.30 ERA (10 ER/12.1 IP) across 3 starts for the Express this season, having last pitched on April 11 vs. Oklahoma City (L, 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R-2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO).

Sborz was placed on the 15-day Injured List on April 7 with a right rotator cuff strain. He is scheduled to be available for Double-A Frisco in tonight’s 6:35 p.m. CT contest against Amarillo at Riders Field. Prior to the injury, Sborz had posted 2.2 scoreless innings over 3 relief appearances for Texas this season, whiffing 3 of 10 batters faced. He is already eligible to be activated off the Injured List at any point.

With today’s transactions, Texas still has 39 players on the club’s Major League roster, along with six players (Brock Burke, Carson Coleman, Jacob deGrom, Justin Foscue, Josh Jung, and Tyler Mahle) on the 60-day Injured List.