The Texas Rangers have announced their minor league award winners for 2026. They are:
Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year: Rafe Perich
Nolan Ryan Pitcher of the Year: Dalton Pence
Reliever of the Year: Louis Marinaro
Defender of the Year: Yolfran Castillo
True Ranger Award: Evan Siary
Perich, a 24 year old switch hitting corner infielder who was the Rangers’ 7th round pick out of Lehigh in 2024, had a middling 2025 season, splitting the year between low-A and high-A, ultimately slashing .231/.347/.330
in 398 plate appearances. Starting at Hub City this year, Perich has had a breakout campaign, slashing .315/.401/.586 with 27 homers, 59 walks and 104 Ks in 551 plate appearances between Hub City, where he played 38 games, and Frisco, where he played 78 games. Perich has primarily played third base, and after the Texas League playoffs wrap up, I wouldn’t be surprised if he joins Round Rock for the end of the AAA season.
Pence, a 24 year old lefthanded pitcher who the Rangers took out of the University of North Carolina in the 11th round in 2024, split the 2025 season between low-A and high-A, putting up a 2.73 ERA in 82 innings spanning 18 starts and 13 relief appearances. Returning to Hub City to start 2026, Pence ended up moving to Frisco after five starts, then to Round Rock after 11 appearances with Frisco. In 114.1 innings over 22 starts and two relief appearances, Pence struck out 117 batters, walked 45, and recorded a 2.44 ERA.
Marinaro, a 22 year old lefthander signed as an undrafted free agent last summer out of St. John’s, spent the season at low-A Hickory. He had a 3.08 ERA in 52.2 innings over 36 appearances, with 70 Ks against 22 walks and just one homer. Over his last fifteen appearances, Marinaro allowed just two runs over 26.1 innings, striking out 34 and walking 11.
Castillo, a 19 year old shortstop out of Venezuela who was part of the Rangers’ 2024 J-2 class, signing for $647,500. After a strong debut that year in the Dominican Summer League, Castillo came stateside in 2025, spending most of the year in the Arizona Complex League before moving to low-A Hickory once the complex league season ended. Castillo is described by Baseball America as being the organization’s best defensive infielder. For the season, Castillo is slashing .288/.390/.416 in 542 plate appearances over 119 games with Hickory and one game with Hub City, with 70 walks, 74 Ks and 55 steals in 65 attempts.
The True Ranger award honors a player who represents the core values of the organization on and off the field, per the release from the team. Siary, a 22 year old righthander selected in the 8th round out of Mississippi State in 2025, had four appearances with Hickory after signing last year. This year, he made 22 starts covering 109 innings, with a 3.30 ERA.
The players will be honored and presented with their awards before Saturday’s game against Toronto.
