The Texas Rangers continued shaping their roster ahead of the new season, announcing Monday that reliever Marc Church and infielder Justin Foscue have been sent down to Triple-A Round Rock. The move is part of the club’s ongoing effort to finalize its Opening Day lineup and pitching staff.
Church’s journey over the past year has been challenging. He initially earned a spot on the Rangers’ Opening Day roster in 2025, signaling confidence from the organization in his potential as a bullpen arm. However, his season quickly became difficult due to inconsistent command on the mound. That struggle led to him being sent to the minors early in the year. Unfortunately, things worsened when he suffered multiple injuries, most notably a torn teres major muscle, which ultimately cut his season short.
As spring training began this year, Church was still in recovery mode and working his way back to full strength. He only recently returned to game action, making his first appearance of the spring on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Because players cannot be optioned while dealing with injuries, the Rangers had to wait until Church was officially healthy before making this move. If he had not been cleared, he would have instead opened the season on the injured list at the major league level.
Foscue’s situation followed a somewhat similar path, though without the long-term injury concerns. Early in camp, the young infielder was slowed by a hamstring strain that limited his ability to compete for a roster spot. Before that setback, there had been real consideration that Foscue could break camp with the big league club, potentially filling a platoon role as a designated hitter or serving as a versatile bench option. However, the injury cost him valuable time, and the team’s later addition of veteran Andrew McCutchen further reduced his chances of sticking on the roster.
Following these moves, the Rangers still have 30 players remaining in big league camp from their 40-man roster. That number will continue to shrink as Opening Day approaches. If McCutchen, who is currently on a minor league contract, earns a spot on the team as expected, it will create additional roster pressure. At least five players currently in camp will not make the final cut.
Several roster battles are still ongoing and will be closely watched in the coming days. Pitchers Jacob Latz and Kumar Rocker are competing for the final spot in the starting rotation. Meanwhile, Luis Curvelo remains in contention for a bullpen role, along with Latz if he ultimately falls short in the rotation race.
Position players are also part of the equation. Alejandro Osuna and Michael Helman are still in camp, though both appear likely to begin the season in Triple-A unless injuries create unexpected openings. Additionally, Cody Freeman is dealing with a stress fracture in his back and is expected to start the year on the injured list.
With multiple decisions still pending, the Rangers are entering the final stretch of camp with competition ongoing across the roster. Every move from this point forward will play a key role in shaping the team’s outlook for the upcoming season.
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