Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers announced the following transactions prior to tonight’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Field:
- Right-handed pitcher Michel Otañez (#58) contract selected from Triple-A Round Rock
- Left-handed pitcher Robby Ahlstrom optioned to Triple-A Round Rock
- Right-handed pitcher Cole Winn transferred to 60-day Injured List
The 29-year-old Michel Otañez (pronounced ‘mee-CHELL oh-TAWN-yez’) has spent the entire season with Triple-A Round Rock, going 5-1 with a 4.42 ERA (27 ER/55.0 IP), 42 walks, and 74 strikeouts across 50 games/one start. Since June 27, the right-hander has posted a Pacific Coast League-best (min. 20.0 IP) 1.33 ERA (4 ER/27.0 IP), fanning 35 in that span while walking 13. He is seeking his first Major League appearance since May 27, 2025 with the Athletics. Otañez was originally acquired via waiver claim by Texas from the A’s on November 5, 2025 and appeared in 3 games for the Rangers during 2026 Cactus League play before he was optioned to Triple-A on March 9. He was designated for assignment on June 13 to make room for right-handed pitcher Joe Ross on the Major League roster.
Otañez has appeared exclusively for the Athletics at the Major League level, going 1-0 with a 4.81 ERA in 42 relief appearances from 2024-25. He made his Major League debut for the A’s on June 10, 2024 at San Diego and posted a 14.5 strikeouts per 9.0 figure (55 SO/34.0 IP) in 36 relief appearances that season – the highest SO/9 mark among A.L. pitchers with least 30.0 IP. Otañez was originally signed by New York-NL as a minor league free agent in 2016 and has seen action in the Mets (2016, 2018-19, 2021-22), Diamondbacks (2023), Athletics (2024-25), and Rangers (2026) organizations.
Ahlstrom, 27, has gone 3-1 with a 6.08 ERA over 42 relief appearances spanning two separate stints with the Rangers this season (June 1-August 26, August 31-September 17). He most recently appeared in last night’s game vs. Boston, allowing one earned run with 2 walks in 0.2 innings as part of a 4-3 Texas defeat (18 pitches/7 strikes). His 42 games in 2026 are the most by any rookie southpaw in the American League (DET’s Drew Sommers is 2nd with 40).
Winn, 26, was initially placed on the 15-day Injured List on August 31, retroactive to August 28, with a right rotator cuff strain. The right-handed pitcher is not eligible to pitch again in the regular season.
With today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with six players on the 60-day Injured List (RHP’s Carter Baumler, Jose Corniell, Jack Leiter, and Cole Winn, LHP Jalen Beeks, and INF/OF Michael Helman).
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