Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka and pitcher Jose Corniell were placed on the injured list with right flexor tendon issues, the team announced yesterday. To replace them on the active roster, the Rangers purchased the contracts of veteran catcher Austin Wynns and veteran pitcher Marco Gonzales from AAA Round Rock. The Rangers had an open spot on the 40 man roster already. To clear a second 40 man roster spot, the Rangers transferred reliever Jalen Beeks from the 15 day injured list to the 60
day injured list.
So, we are catching up on yesterday afternoon’s transactions. The move with Corniell happened relatively early in the afternoon, with Gonzales being brought up essentially because he’s someone who has experience and could give the Rangers innings. He had a three inning save in yesterday’s game — however, his stay in the big leagues could be short, as Chris Martin made a rehab appearance yesterday, and could end up being activated in the next few days. If so, Gonzales is potentially the odd man out. He had not pitched in the majors since 2024 prior to yesterday, and in 64 innings over 16 starts and a relief appearance in AAA this year, he has an 8.16 ERA.
Corniell, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and had a strong, if abbreviated, minor league campaign in 2025 when he returned, pitched in the Rangers’ final game of the 2025 season and has appeared twice in the majors for the Rangers this season. His last appearance was on Monday, when he allowed five runs in the ninth inning of the game against the White Sox. He also allowed five runs, though in 3.1 innings of work, on June 23, his other major league appearance this year.
The news of soreness in his elbow is especially worrisome for Corniell, given his recent return from Tommy John surgery. I suspect the Rangers will be very cautious with him the rest of the way, and its not out of the question he is done for the year.
Higashioka going on the injured list means the Rangers are missing both of their catchers from Opening Day due to elbow issues. Danny Jansen went on the injured list in early June and there’s no real timetable as to if and when he would return this year. Higashioka, who was placed on the injured list just an hour before yesterday’s game, is, like Corniell, dealing with soreness in an elbow that has previously undergone Tommy John surgery, though Higashioka had the surgery 2013. At this point, its not clear when or if Higashioka, who is in the final year of a two year deal, will return.
The Rangers are now using the combination of Elias Diaz, a 35 year old veteran signed as a free agent in June when Jansen went on the injured list, and Austin Wynns, a 35 year old veteran signed in late June as AAA depth. The Rangers have shown interest in longer-term solutions behind the plate for a while, and Ken Rosenthal had an article yesterday about a number of quality catchers who could be available at the deadline. Whether the Rangers would opt to splurge for a controllable, quality backstop like, say Shea Langeliers in the next couple of weeks remains to be seen.
