Last week’s section of The News’ minor league report focused on left-hander Antoine Kelly, potentially the Rangers’ top bullpen choice from within the organization. This week’s installment will adopt a similar approach but shift the focus to the offensive aspect.
Similar to last week’s report, this week’s update coincides with a call-up. On Tuesday, the Rangers brought outfielder Derek Hill up from the Triple-A Round Rock Express, sending infielder Davis Wendzel down to the minors and placing reliever Austin Pruitt on the 60-day injured list. Hill, 28 years old, has compiled a career .593 OPS over 280 major league at-bats with Detroit and Washington. While he has performed well in Triple-A this season, his promotion once again underscores the team’s lack of depth and viable options to provide a boost to the struggling offense.
Unfortunately, third baseman Josh Jung is expected to remain sidelined until at least the end of June due to a wrist fracture. Rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford is recovering from a hamstring strain but has faced challenges even when healthy. Infielder Justin Foscue has been absent from action since suffering an oblique strain early in the season. Wendzel, who struggled with a 2-for-29 performance during his time with the Rangers this season, failed to make a significant impact during his stint.
So, what’s the deal with Sam Huff?
Huff, once considered a highly promising catching prospect, has somewhat transitioned into more of a Quad-A player at the age of 26. He has posted a batting line of .263/.360/.517 in 32 games for the Round Rock Express this season. While he has had several chances in the majors since 2020, none have resulted in a lasting impact. Naturally, the majority of playing time behind the plate is reserved for All-Star and Gold Glove winner Jonah Heim, leaving Huff with limited defensive capabilities.
However, his batting abilities stand out. With a .262/.314/.462 slash line in 76 major league games, Huff may not be exceptional, but his career .776 OPS would rank fourth among qualified hitters on the Rangers this season. While he performs best against right-handed pitchers, his .776 OPS and two home runs against Triple-A left-handers don’t necessarily indicate he’ll dominate major league southpaws. 
However, his .500 batting average on pitches clocked at 95 mph or higher in Triple-A this year is noteworthy, as no qualified Texas hitter has achieved this feat. Huff is on the 40-man roster, and backup catcher Andrew Knizner’s .338 OPS in 41 at-bats this season hasn’t contributed much to a lineup prone to slumps.
Although Huff isn’t a savior, he could offer some depth until the Rangers’ offense regains its form from last season. It’s a potential solution, something Texas is currently lacking.