Former Rangers top catching prospect's big league career hits another snag with latest news

When Sam Huff was drafted in the 7th round of the 2016 MLB Amateur draft out of high school in Arizona, there were high hopes that he would eventually be the backstop of the future for the Rangers heading into the 2020s.

For a while, it looked as if he would fulfill the lofty expectations as he made his way through the minor leagues, at one point being the second overall prospect in the farm system. Now the 28-year-old, has been cut loose by a third team in three years.

Baltimore Orioles have DFA'd the former Rangers catcher

After a quick cup of coffee at the major league level this season, having his contract selected last week, Huff is ceding his spot to Adley Rutschman, who is returning from an ankle injury. He is now a free agent in search of his fourth team in three years.

Huff was removed by the Texas Rangers in December 2024, being designated for assignment to make room for incoming reliever Shawn Armstrong, who then departed this past winter after spending one season with the Rangers.

Baltimore claimed Huff in January following his release from the San Francisco Giants last season, which has caused the former shooting star for the Rangers to be packing his bags much more frequently than he would've preferred.

Sam Huff had some big seasons at every level of the minor leagues

At just 20 years old, Huff made an immediate impact when he hit 43 homers from 2016 to 2019 at Single-A Hickory before making the jump to Double-A Frisco in 2020 and mashed 10 dingers in just 43 games for the Rough Riders.

At Round Rock, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound catcher continued his meteoric rise, slashing .246/.310/.416 with 13 round trippers over 111 games played. He eventually made his MLB Debut during the COVID shortened season and then spent parts of the next few season back-and-forth between Arlington and Round Rock.

Huff's minor league success never translated to the major league level, as he hit .239 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs over 167 at-bats in parts of 2024 and 2025. His achilles heel has been the strikeouts, as he is sporting an oversized 36.3 percent strikeout rate for his career,

Being cut loose by the Orioles is the latest setback that the big right-handed hitter has endured over the last three years.

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