ROUND ROCK, Texas –The Round Rock Express, in conjunction with the World Series Champion Texas Rangers, announced the club’s preliminary roster on Wednesday afternoon. The preliminary roster is subject to change prior to Round Rock Express Opening Day, which is set for Friday, March 29 as the Sugar Land Space
ROUND ROCK, Texas –The Round Rock Express, in conjunction with the World Series Champion Texas Rangers, announced the club’s preliminary roster on Wednesday afternoon. The preliminary roster is subject to change prior to Round Rock Express Opening Day, which is set for Friday, March 29 as the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros affiliate) visit Dell Diamond at 7:15 p.m.
Click here for a PDF version of the Preliminary 2024 Roster
The club features six of the top 30 prospects in the Texas Rangers organization, according to MLB.com, led by INF Justin Foscue, who checks in at No. 5 on the list. RHP Jack Leiter is ranked as the No. 8 prospect in the organization while RHP Owen White is listed at No. 10. Additionally, OF Dustin Harris is Texas’ No. 11 ranked prospect while LHP Antoine Kelly (No. 22) and RHP Marc Church (No. 23) round out the top Rangers prospects appearing on the preliminary Express roster.
The preliminary roster includes 30 players, 21 of which have appeared with the Express before. Returning to Round Rock for the 2024 season will be RHP Grant Anderson, INF Jax Biggers, INF Blaine Crim, Church, LHP Danny Duffy, OF Sandro Fabian, Foscue, Harris, OF Elier Hernandez, C Sam Huff, Kelly, Leiter, INF Jonathan Ornelas, RHP Daniel Robert, RHP Adrian Sampson, RHP Jesus Tinoco, INF Davis Wendzel, C Matt Whatley, White,** and **RHP Cole Winn.
Ten of the 15 position players and eight of the 15 pitchers on the 2024 preliminary roster appeared in a game with the Express last year. In 2023, the Express finished third in the Pacific Coast League in home runs and 78 percent of those homers will return to the E-Train. Additionally, six of the nine players who appeared in the 2023 Express Opening Day lineup are slated to start the 2024 season in Round Rock.
In total, 13 of the 30 players have logged Major League service time in their careers, including eight of the 14 pitchers on the staff, Anderson (Rangers), Duffy (Royals), RHP Shane Greene (Yankees, Tigers, Braves, Dodgers, Cubs), RHP Austin Pruitt (Tampa Bay, Houston, Miami, Oakland), RHP Adrian Sampson (Mariners, Rangers, Cubs), LHP Chasen Shreve (Braves, Yankees, Cardinals, Mets, Pirates, Tigers, Reds), LHP Blake Taylor (Astros), RHP Jesus Tinoco (Rockies, Rangers) and White (Rangers).
Of the four catchers on the club’s preliminary roster, three have appeared in Major League Baseball at some point in their careers, including C José Godoy (Mariners, Twins, Pirates),** Huff (Rangers) and **C Andrew Knapp (Phillies, Pirates, Mariners, Giants). In the infield, Ornelas (Rangers) and INF Matt Duffy (Giants, Rays, Cubs, Angels, Royals) have logged Major League service time while in the outfield, Hernandez (Rangers) and OF Derek Hill (Tigers, Nationals).
Round Rock’s initial roster features a distinct international flair with three different nations represented. In addition to the 26 players from the United States, Fabian and Hernandez were born in the Dominican Republic while Godoy and Tinoco call Venezuela home.
American born players hail from 13 different states, including Alabama (Crim, Foscue, Robert), Arizona (Hauver, Huff, Ornelas), California (Duffy, Knapp, Taylor, Wendzel), Colorado (Winn), Florida (Greene, Harris, Leiter), Georgia (Church, Duffy), Illinois (Kelly), Iowa (Hill), Nevada (Shreve), Oklahoma (Whatley), Pennsylvania (RHP Tim Brennan) and Washington (Sampson). Anderson (Port Arthur), Biggers (Missouri City) and Pruitt (Plano) represent the Lone Star state on the 2024 roster.
Round Rock’s full roster can be downloaded via RRExpress.com.
Round Rock’s coaching staff is led by Manager Doug Davis, Pitching Coach Dave Borkowski, Hitting Coach Matt Lawson, Bench Coach Chase Lambin, Development Coach Josh Johnson, Bullpen Coach Demetre Kokoris, Athletic Trainer Will Whitehead and Strength and Conditioning Coach Jeff Mathers.
The Express kick off the 2024 season on Friday, March 29 against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros affiliate) at 7:15 p.m. at Dell Diamond. Season memberships and Pick 6 Voucher Packs are on sale now. For more information on the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
The Round Rock Express Baseball Club, owned and operated by Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment, is the proud Triple-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers and a member of the Pacific Coast League. To manage your Express Communications Department email preferences, please click here
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