A pair of Rangers pitchers were recognized for the Arizona Fall League work
Texas Rangers pitchers Josh Stephan and Leandro Lopez, currently toiling for the Surprise Saguaros, were named the Co-Pitchers of the Week for the Arizona Fall League for the week that just ended.
Stephan and Lopez combined to throw the first seven innings of a game on November 1 where Surprise took a no-hitter into the 8th inning. Stephan struck out five and walked no one in four innings in that game, while Lopez struck out seven and walked one in three innings.
Stephan has allowed just one run in 16.2 innings over five appearances in the AFL so far this year, with 17 Ks against three walks. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Grand Prairie in 2020, the 23 year old righthander missed much of the 2024 season due to injury, and had a rough go of things at Frisco when he was healthy, putting up a 4.94 ERA in 58.1 IP. Stephan is Rule 5 eligible this offseason, and would seem likely to be exposed, given he’s a command-over-stuff guy who struggled at AA this year.
Lopez, like Stephan, missed much of 2024 due to injury, throwing just 13 innings for Hickory. He has a 4.73 ERA in 13.1 IP over 5 appearances for Surprise so far, with 17 Ks gainst 9 walks.
As far as other Rangers pitchers go, Avery Weems has allowed one run in 5.1 IP over 5 appearances, with 6 Ks and no walks. The 27 year old lefty, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in the Lance Lynn trade, missed all of 2023 and most of 2024.
Marc Church, who is also making up for some innings missed in 2024 due to injury, has thrown 5 innings over 5 games, striking out 8, walking one and allowing three runs. Fellow reliever Skylar Hales has allowed 7 runs in 3.2 IP over 5 appearances, striking out two and walking two.
Meanwhile, former Ranger Zak Kent, currently with the Cleveland Guardians, has put up a 4.97 ERA in 12.2 IP over 4 games for Surprise, as he gets some innings after missing most of the 2024 season.
On the position player side of things, Alejandro Osuna has been terrific, slashing .366/.511/.563 with 20 walks against 18 Ks in 92 plate appearances so far. Max Acosta is slashing .298/.375/.491 in 64 plate appearances and is 6 for 7 in stolen bases. Cody Freeman has a .310/.412/.500 slash line.