ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers sent catcher Kyle Higashioka to Triple-A Round Rock on an injury rehab assignment Friday. He is scheduled to bat second as the Round Rock Express’ designated hitter Friday night against the Oklahoma City Comets at Dell Diamond, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. CT.
Higashioka has been on the 10-day injured list since July 21 with a right flexor strain. Texas placed him there an hour before first pitch against the Chicago White Sox that night, and the strain is near the right elbow on which he had Tommy John surgery in 2013 while in the New York Yankees’ system.
The move put both of the club’s Opening Day catchers on the injured list at the same time. Danny Jansen had been out since June 6 with a right forearm strain.
Kyle Higashioka’s Path Back
On Aug. 11, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Higashioka had started a throwing program. On Wednesday at Globe Life Field, Higashioka was one of three Texas hitters who faced Robert Garcia in a live batting practice session, along with Nicky Lopez and Josh Jung.
Position players may spend up to 20 days on a rehab assignment.
In 56 games before the injury, Higashioka batted .218/.306/.370 with 7 home runs and 18 RBIs. He started 68 games behind the plate for Texas in 2025, his first season with the club, and missed two weeks that spring with a left intercostal strain.
Higashioka signed a two-year, $13.5 million contract with the Rangers on Dec. 2, 2024. He is earning $6.75 million this season, and the deal carries a $7 million mutual option for 2027 with a $1 million buyout.
Texas Rangers Catching Depth
Jansen returned from the 60-day injured list Aug. 25. His Round Rock rehab stint had started Aug. 11, when he caught five innings against Sugar Land and went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Elias Díaz got most of the work behind the plate while Jansen and Higashioka were unavailable.
Texas added another option in Logan O’Hoppe, acquired from the Los Angeles Angels on July 29. The Rangers initially sent O’Hoppe to Round Rock after the trade, but he is now back on the active roster. With Higashioka still on the injured list, Texas is carrying Jansen, Díaz, and O’Hoppe on its 28-man September roster.
The Rangers improved to 70-71 with Thursday’s 6-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. They sit second in the American League West, two games behind the Houston Astros.
Texas and Tampa Bay play again Friday at Globe Life Field. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. CT.
