Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced the organization’s minor league award winners for May:
Player of the Month – INF Ezequiel Duran
Starting Pitcher of the Month – LHP Larson Kindreich
Reliever of the Month – RHP Grant Anderson
Defender of the Month – OF Josh Stowers
Duran, 23, slashed .371/.406/.711/1.117 (36-97) with 6 home runs, 13 doubles, one triple, 23 RBI, 20 runs and 3 stolen bases with Frisco (AA) in May. He ranked among Texas League leaders in doubles (1st), hits (T2nd, and OPS (4th) for the month, reaching base safely via hit or walk in 21 of 24 games. Duran was recalled by Texas on Saturday and has batted .316 (6-19) with one home run and one RBI over 5 games in his Major League debut. Acquired by the Rangers in a six-player trade involving Joey Gallo on June 29, 2021, the Dominican Republic native is rated by Baseball America as the 4th-best prospect in the Texas farm system and no. 66 overall on the publication’s Top 100 Prospects list.
Kindreich, 22, posted a 2-1 record, 2.84 ERA (6 ER/19.0 IP) and 27 strikeouts over 4 games/2 starts for Down East (A) in May, limiting opponents to a .209 batting average. The left-hander has seen early success in 2022, holding a 3-1 record and a 2.06 ERA (8 ER/35.0 IP) through 8 games/5 starts for the Wood Ducks. He has yet to allow a home run this season and ranks among Carolina League pitchers (min. 30.0 IP) in opp. BA (6th, .165), ERA (9th) and strikeouts per 9.0 innings (9th, 13.63). A native of Medford, Ore., Kindreich was selected by Texas in the 8th round of the 2021 MLB Draft and is rated by Baseball America as the no. 20 prospect in the Rangers organization.
Anderson, 24, went 2-0 with a 3.07 ERA (5 ER/14.2 IP) over 9 relief appearances for Frisco (AA) in May, striking out 20 of 64 (31.3%) batters faced. 4 of the 5 runs he allowed in the month came in one outing (May 27 vs. San Antonio), as he was scoreless in 7 of 9 appearances. The Port Arthur, Tex. native has posted a 3-0 record and 2.96 ERA (9 ER/27.1 IP) in 17 outings this season (all with Frisco), holding opponents to a .226 batting average and 36 strikeouts/9 walks. Anderson was acquired by Texas from Seattle in exchange for RHP Connor Sadzeck on April 1, 2019.
Stowers, 25, recorded one assist and converted 34 of 37 (.946) total chances in the outfield last month, splitting 16 starts between right field (8) and center field (8). His spectacular running catch on May 4 vs. Arkansas, in which he collided with the outfield wall in center, was nominated as one of five finalists for Minor League Baseball’s “Top Play of the Month” award. Stowers has seen action at all 3 outfield positions over 38 starts this season (16-RF, 14-CF, 7-LF), compiling 2 assists and a .960 fielding percentage. The Chicago native is in his second season with the Texas organization after he was acquired from New York-AL, along with C/OF Antonio Cabello, in exchange for Rougned Odor on April 6, 2021.