Rangers Sign Domingo Leyba

The Rangers announced they’ve signed infielder Domingo Leyba to a minor league contract. He has been assigned to Triple-A Round Rock.

Leyba has seen big league action in parts of two seasons, including his most extended run this year. Originally a prospect in the Tigers’ system, he was traded to the Diamondbacks in 2015. The switch-hitter reached the majors with Arizona and picked up 30 plate appearances in 2019 but he missed all of last season and was passed through outright waivers over the offseason. The D-Backs brought Leyba back in May but quickly waived him again, and he landed with the Orioles via claim that time around.

Baltimore kept Leyba on the roster for a couple months but eventually passed him through waivers themselves. He was released in late August. The 25-year-old has tallied 126 career plate appearances at the big league level, hitting just .152/.238/.223 with one home run. He’s been far better at Triple-A, though, posting a .307/.355/.542 mark over 609 trips to the plate. Leyba has ample experience at each of second base, third base and shortstop.

The Rangers obviously aren’t competing for a postseason spot, but there’s no harm in bolstering the organizational depth chart. If Texas selects Leyba to the major league roster before the end of the season, he’d remain controllable for the next few years. If he doesn’t crack the big league club, Leyba will qualify for minor league free agency this winter.