The Rangers are promoting top infield prospect Ezequiel Duran to the big league club, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter). He will start today’s ballgame at third base. Duran, 23, is already on the 40-man roster, so no move is required on that front.
Before the season started, Duran was the 83rd-ranked prospect in baseball per MLB.com and the 99th-ranked prospect by Baseball Prospectus. He has risen to the 66th-ranked overall prospect per Baseball America, who ranks him as the 4th-best prospect in the Rangers’ system. He was one of the pieces sent to Texas as part of the Joey Gallo trade.
Duran has improved his stock without appearing as high as Triple-A. In Double-A, he has a .317/.365/.574 triple slash line through 200 plate appearances this season. He spent all of last season in High-A. Duran will play third base today, but he has the ability to play up the middle. Of course, the Rangers doled out millions this winter for Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to play second and shortstop, respectively. Both players are signed through 2028.
Josh Smith was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left shoulder, per the team. Smith, also acquired in the Gallo deal, has raked in his first taste of the big leagues, going 5-for-12 with a pair of walks to just one strikeout over five games. Smith is the Rangers’ 9th-ranked prospect, per Baseball America.
The man has been tearing up AA. So excited!
Really wishing TEX would trade for Jarren Duran so they can form the band.
Both would be “hungry like the wolf”
And when he shines, he’ll really show you all he can. Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande.
Uno Duran. Bueno. Dos Duran? No mas.
Every time I hear the make Ezequiel or any variation of , this is all I can think of now…..
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiX1v7espT4AhVlsoQIHacNCbkQwqsBegQIAxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D-fd32wRx5u0&usg=AOvVaw0nZw3DJbFAEEWR_DjNSGl2
That said, I hope Duran comes up and tears up 🙂
Since when is Seager playing 2B and Semien playing SS? I think you got your “respectively” backwards.
Called for him before Smith, but damn the Rangers got a huge return for Gallo. Otto on the hill today too and Smith looks like he’s a MLer.
I still have absolutely no idea what Cashman was thinking with the Gallo trade. It made no sense to me at the time, and looks just plain awful now.
Anyone but Ibanez..
Too bad for Josh Smith. I’ve liked him when he was with the Yankees, so picked him up for my fantasy team the other day. Oh well! He got his chance, only to go down quickly with an injury. Duran is the potential star, but Smith could be a solid regular.
This must be one of the other Failed Yankees prospects everyone talks about, ya know the overrated ones that don’t amount to anything.
Anyway, wish this kid the best, man.
That Joey Gallo trade is looking absolutely horrendous for the Yankees. It could honestly go down as one of the worst trades in recent memory. I’m a big fan of all three of Duran, Smith and Hauver. They could all end up being pretty good.
Yanks had to give up extra for Texas to pay the salary of Gallo.
Otto is a middle of the rotation arm. Take out his one bad start and his ERA is under 3
So when does semien get benched. Keep tiptoeing around that problem
I knew they would regret that contract the second they signed him.
It’s been 55 games… Relax
Joey is saying: “Relax”. HBan was saying: “Don’t do it” when the Rangers were thinking long contract. The appropriately named Butch is offering “When you wanna come”, in terms of pondering how soon of a replacement. So many opinions on the subject. “Relax”. “Don’t do it”. “When you wanna come?”
Lot of drama and lot to take in this summer in ye Olde AL west. As Two Tribes, the Astros and the Angels go to war to determine who will prevail, the elephant in the room is when the As will ultimately deal Montas. I could see the Dodgers making a play here. It’s just a Question of Time before Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Don’t give up on the Rangers duo quite yet. Ive seen them trying. Seen Corey trying. Working on his game to get better, particularly to play better during night games. Working on motion around the bag. You could say he’s working on his night moves. Working and practicing. Will be ready. With autumn closing in.
I hope Ezequiel has retained much of his Yankees hitting instruction and development. He’s now with an organization that is unable to help him any further. Good luck Ezequiel and don’t let the Rangers ruin your swing and approach.