The Texas Rangers made a roster move on Wednesday by outrighting relief pitcher Marc Church to Triple-A Round Rock, officially removing him from the 40-man roster after he was designated for assignment the previous week. The earlier roster shuffle came when Texas added pitchers Cal Quantrill and Gavin Collyer, forcing a corresponding move to clear space.
This outright assignment marks the first time Church has been removed from a 40-man roster in his career. Because he cleared waivers, he will remain in the Rangers organization and continue pitching in the minors, though without occupying a major league roster spot. For now, he stays in the system but loses the immediate pathway that comes with being on the 40-man roster.
Church’s journey to this point has been shaped by both promise and setbacks. Originally selected in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of high school in Atlanta, he received a $300,000 signing bonus—an indication that the Rangers saw more potential in him than his draft position suggested. Over time, he developed into a notable bullpen prospect thanks to his arm strength and swing-and-miss ability.
However, injuries have repeatedly slowed his progression. After earning a place on the 40-man roster following the 2023 season, Church’s momentum stalled when he missed most of the following year due to a rotator cuff strain. He managed a brief MLB appearance at the end of the 2024 season, which was enough to earn him an Opening Day bullpen spot the following spring. Unfortunately, his opportunity did not last long, as he was optioned after just five appearances.
His struggles continued in the minors, where he spent much of the season on the injured list for a second consecutive year. During that stretch, he dealt with a series of physical setbacks, including elbow, oblique, and lat injuries, followed by a teres major strain that lingered into the offseason. These repeated injuries disrupted his development and consistency.
Entering the 2026 season, Church was optioned to Round Rock, where early results have shown some rust. Over his first 4 2/3 innings, he has issued four walks and hit another batter, highlighting ongoing command issues. Despite the control problems, his raw stuff has remained encouraging. His fastball continues to sit around 96 mph, paired with a sharp slider in the mid-80s. He has also experimented with a changeup, a pitch he rarely used in earlier stages of his career.
While his struggles with command and durability likely discouraged other teams from claiming him off waivers, his underlying talent still stands out. The Rangers are hoping that with improved health and refined control, Church can regain his form and work his way back into consideration for a bullpen role in the future.
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