To bolster their bullpen, the Texas Rangers have made a few changes prior to the roster reserve deadline. Marc Church and Antoine Kelly, two young pitchers who could be alternatives for the team’s bullpen in 2024, have been added to the 40-man roster. The Rangers also added right-hand starter José Corniell, who was voted the team’s minor league starter of the year, and infielder Justin Foscue, their 2020 first-round pick. With these acquisitions, the roster now stands at 37 players. Before Friday’s contract tender deadline, more alterations are anticipated.

Following his promotion to Triple-A Round Rock, 22-year-old right-hander Marc Church demonstrated his potential with a 2.97 ERA in 33 innings pitched. But in September, he appeared to tyre out. Conversely, after being acquired from Milwaukee in 2022, Antoine Kelly had a great season’s finale and was recognised as the team’s minor league reliever of the year. Kelly had an amazing 0.74 ERA in his previous 36.1 innings, which he split between Double-A Frisco and Round Rock. He also only allowed six walks at that time.

The 24-year-old infielder Justin Foscue also merited a spot on the squad. In 122 games in Round Rock, he had a strong performance, slashing.266/.394/.468/.862 with 18 home runs. Because of his methodical approach at the plate, Foscue recorded 85 walks compared to 70 strikeouts. If the Rangers look within for solutions, they may consider him a designated hitter option despite his position as a second baseman. José Corniell, a 20-year-old, demonstrated his talent at the team’s Class A affiliates, pitching 101 innings with a 2.92 ERA.

Despite being eligible, two players—right-hander Dane Acker and infielder Davis Wendzel—were left off the 40-man roster. Acker, who compiled a 2.54 ERA in 67 innings at Class A, and Wendzel, the team’s second-round selection in 2019, might now find themselves chosen by another team in the December Rule V draft. If chosen, the player would have to play for the entire season with the new team or make an offer to return to the Rangers. Mason Englert, a right-hander, was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the Rule V draft last year, and the Rangers lost him.