Rangers injury news: Corey Seager frustrations, Jack Leiter surgery, Jordan Montgomery's next step

Injuries have been a major storyline of the Texas Rangers' season so far in 2026. It has seemed that every time the club is about to get healthy, a new wave of injuries hits them and upends any sense of continuity they've been trying to build.

The latest update is a mixed bag of good news, bad news, and uncertain news. It's made it hard to know what to expect moving forward at times, but we're here to help sort through all of it.

Corey Seager's lengthy concussion recovery once again keeps him out of the Rangers' lineup

Seager was eligible to return from the seven-day concussion IL last Friday, June 19, following his lack of hustle leading to the home plate collision that sidelined him. Originally described as "mild," his concussion symptoms were thought to have him out for the minimum number of days.

However, the Rangers have been treating him with kid gloves. He's been doing on-field work, running, and was set to take live batting practice yesterday, but is still not ready to return to the lineup last night against the Miami Marlins.

Seager's lack of durability and slow recoveries have drawn the ire of fans, some of whom have questioned his commitment. It's led to some speculation that, regardless of whether Texas buys or sells at the trade deadline, trading Seager away is a must.

Regardless of whether or not Seager's Rangers future is in doubt, the club will need him back sooner rather than later in order to make a run or showcase him for other, potentially interested, teams.

Jack Leiter has ankle surgery and will return to the Rangers, but the timetable is up in the air

Jack Leiter had the fourth-worst ERA among qualified starters at the time he went on the IL with an ankle injury, presenting some hope that the malady was the cause of his dramatic regression.

The ankle impingement had impacted his delivery, and it seems that the injury dates back to his slipping in the on-deck circle against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 22, if not before. While that could explain some things, we're now left with more questions than answers.

Leiter underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies in his ankle yesterday, and while the Rangers expect him back at some point this year, the when is the question. It seems like August would be the absolute earliest he could return to action, but September is more likely.

This brings about all kinds of rotation questions, from how the Rangers fill the void in the interim to what impact this could have on their trade deadline plans to who could be possible trade targets, and much more.

The silver lining is that there could be a solution waiting in the wings, which brings us to the Jordan Montgomery of it all.

The Rangers get good news on Jordan Montgomery as the left-hander began his rehab assignment

When Texas decided to bring Jordan Montgomery back on a one-year, $1.25 million contract over the winter, the club knew it was taking a calculated gamble. The 33-year-old southpaw was instrumental in the Rangers' 2023 World Series victory, but since then, things had gone off the rails.

With the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024, Montgomery battled a couple of different leg injuries while posting a ghastly 6.23 ERA. Then, in March of 2025, he'd undergo the second Tommy John surgery of his career.

However, from the time the Rangers acquired him at the 2023 trade deadline through the end of their World Series run, Montgomery had given them 98 2/3 innings of sub-3.00 ERA ball, regular season and postseason combined. If he can return to something anywhere close to that level, he could provide the rotation a huge boost.

He took his first step towards accomplishing that on Sunday, June 21, spending his Father's Day in Frisco making his first rehab start. The Rangers are talking it slow with him, only scheduling him for an inning of work during his first live action since the beginning of last year's spring training, but he was effective.

Montgomery threw just 13 pitches, 10 of which were strikes, to get through that inning, surrendering one hit and recording one strikeout. His ramp-up will be gradual, but hopefully, he can return a little before the trade deadline to give the Rangers an idea if he can fill the rotation void, or if they'll need to go shopping for starter help elsewhere.

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