Rangers make first spring training cuts of 2026 as 5 top prospects depart big-league camp

Texas Rangers announce several reassignments, options Monday

The Texas Rangers announced a flurry of roster moves on Monday morning. Right-handed pitcher Winston Santos was optioned to Double-A Frisco, and right-handed pitcher Emiliano Teodo was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers also reassigned infielder Sebastian Walcott, infielder Richie Martin Jr., left-handed pitcher Dalton Pence, left-handed pitcher Josh Trentadue, right-handed pitcher Nabil Crismatt, right-handed pitcher Declan Cronin and outfielder Trevor Hauver to minor league camp. The Rangers now have 57 players in big-league camp, 19 being non-roster invitees.

Several of the players reassigned to minor league camp are injured. Crismatt, who signed a minor-league deal with Texas in December, will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing UCL surgery last month. Walcott, the Rangers' No. 1-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, will miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season after undergoing an internal brace procedure last month. Cronin underwent Tommy John Surgery in September. Santos, arguably Texas' best pitching prospect, is expected to be sidelined until late March after suffering a fractured left hand, and Teodo is still recovering from back issues. It's tough to see so many players injured, especially since many of them are highly-regarded prospects.

Martin Jr., who last appeared in the big leagues in 2022 with the Baltimore Orioles, was on a tear at the plate before being reassigned. In 18 at-bats this spring, the infielder has hit six singles and one double with three RBI and two walks. If the Rangers suffer numerous infield injuries during the regular season, the 31-year-old could find himself on the big-league roster at some point.

Pence, 23, made one appearance this spring training before being reassigned to minor-league camp. The lefty allowed one earned run on a homer and induced two flyouts and a popout during the eighth inning of the Rangers' 7-6 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. Trenatadue also made his lone appearance this spring on Saturday, hurling a scoreless seventh inning with two strikeouts and a walk.

As for Hauver, the outfielder didn't make any appearances in big-league camp.

Rangers set to host Cleveland Guardians

The Rangers will play the Guardians at 2:05 p.m. CST at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. Left-hander Austin Gomber is scheduled to start for Texas, while right-hander Slade Cecconi is slated to make the start on the mound for Cleveland. The game won't be available to stream on TV.