Rangers Option Catcher, Trim Spring Roster

The Texas Rangers made several roster moves Sunday before facing the Seattle Mariners in Jacob deGrom's first MLB spring game with the club. The most notable transaction was optioning catcher Sam Huff to Triple-A Round Rock.

The move sends a clear signal the Rangers are comfortable with a tandem of Jonah Heim and Mitch Garver, with the latter coming back from season-ending surgery last year.

Garver will likely be the designated hitter on days he doesn’t catch.

Huff was batting .308 in spring training with one home run and three RBI in 10 games and 13 at-bats. The Rangers like his power, but Huff hasn’t been able to get enough consistent playing time to lay claim to a job with the Rangers.

Huff batted .240/.303/.372/.675 in 44 games last season with the Rangers, hitting four home runs and driving in 10.

The Rangers also reassigned outfielder Elier Hernandez, left-handed pitcher Jake Latz, and right-handed pitchers Marc Church and Chase Lee to their minor league camp.

Lee and Church both pitched on Saturday against the Angels. They were not expected to make the Opening Day roster. Church is considered one of the team’s Top 30 prospects, per MLB.com.

Latz and Hernandez were non-roster invitees to Spring Training.

With these moves, the Rangers now have 44 players on their spring roster. Texas has to be down to 26 players by Opening Day.

Two players on the spring roster won't be ready for Opening Day. Pitcher Jake Odorizzi, who has dealt with arm fatigue since the start of Spring Training, is headed to the injured list. Pitcher Avery Weems had Tommy John surgery in February and is out for the season.

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