The Rangers announced that outfielder Derek Hill has been designated for assignment. The move opens up roster space for Texas to call up infield prospect Justin Foscue from Triple-A.
Hill has been DFA’ed multiple times during his pro career, and this is the second time the Rangers have designated him in as many months. The previous designation in June saw Hill clear waivers and then choose free agency rather than an outright assignment, but he quickly re-signed with the Rangers on a new minors contract. Hill’s deal was selected again to the Texas roster last month, and overall he has hit .256/.289/.465 with three home runs over 45 plate appearances and 16 games this season.
While Hill provided a bit of extra pop during his brief stints on the 26-man roster, he’ll again be exposed to the DFA wire since he is out of minor league options, and thus can’t be just cleanly sent down to Triple-A. Since Hill has been outrighted in the past, he has the right to again elect free agency if he clears waivers and Texas again tries to outright him off the 40-man, or we could see a repeat of the earlier scenario where Hill just rejoins the organization as Triple-A depth.
Appearing in each of the last five MLB seasons, Hill has a career .232/.280/.334 slash line in 349 plate appearances with the Rangers, Nationals, and Tigers. The lack of hitting has limited Hill’s playing time, but the 28-year-old can provide solid glovework at all three outfield positions and outstanding speed, making him an interesting bench option. Selected 23rd overall by Detroit in the 2014 draft, Hill has also crushed Triple-A pitching in his minor league career, including an 1.045 OPS in 176 PA with Triple-A Round Rock this year.
Foscue made his Major League debut this season and appeared in two games for the Rangers before suffering an oblique strain that has sidelined him for over three and a half months. A highly-touted hitter during his college days at Mississippi State, Foscue was picked 14th overall in the 2020 draft, and delivered big numbers during his time in the Texas farm system. His excellent contact skills and decent power hint that Foscue’s bat may be ready for the Show, even if it isn’t yet clear which position (if any) will be his eventual landing spot. Since Marcus Semien is blocking Foscue’s natural second base position and Nathaniel Lowe has first base covered, Foscue could be used as a DH or as a third baseman with Josh Jung still injured.
Most of Hills power came in one game. I will say he is great with the glove and very fast. If the Rangers were hitting he’d have stuck even if he is a little redundant with Travis J on the roster.
Should have dfa’d Jank instead and kept the righty Hill.
Nah Jank is a great bench player, fielder and pinch runner, super useful. But man if I have to watch him DH one more game I might throw up, let Foscue hit and let Jank ride the bench until you want to put him in to play defense for Langford in the 9th.
If he’s playing D for anyone it’s Garcia. Langford is a better defender than Garcia who has lost a step.
Looking at both his 2024 and career splits, it appears that he hits lefthanded pitching really well. Would fit nice in Philly as a Cristian Pache replacement and upgrade.