The trade deadline saw the Rangers ship away six minor league pitchers, including three in one deal with the Diamondbacks to acquire veteran Merrill Kelly. Texas surrendered upper-levels lefthanders Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt along with High-A righthander David Hagaman.
Not moved, despite heavy interest, was 20-year-old righthander Caden Scarborough, who is enjoying a summertime renaissance. He allowed just three earned runs in eight appearances for Low-A Hickory from June 29 to Aug. 14.
The stretch started with four perfect innings and ended with five no-hit frames. Scarborough posted a 0.79 ERA over that 34.1-inning stretch with 39 strikeouts and six walks to shake off an inconsistent start to his third pro season.
It also earned him a promotion to High-A Hub City on Aug. 21.
“It was just getting settled in,” said Scarborough, a 2023 sixth-rounder from Harmony High in Florida. “At the start of the year, I was trying to be too perfect. I told myself, ‘Just go after guys.’ If they hit it, they hit it. If they don’t, they don’t.”
Scarborough can run his fastball into the upper 90s with a smooth delivery. He throws his slider from the same tunnel, which helps him put away the more advanced hitters he is seeing at the Class A levels after logging just 10.1 innings last season in the Arizona Complex League.
Scarborough reached 80 innings by late August but said he isn’t wearing down despite the relatively heavy workload.
“My body’s feeling good, and my mind is feeling good,” Scarborough said. “It’s definitely a big jump in innings, but my body’s handled it a lot better than I thought it would, for sure.”
Staying healthy is one of Scarborough’s biggest goals, but so is adding a third pitch to go with his fastball and slider. He’s doing that with a splitter which he said he throws around 10% of the time. It was recommended to him in 2024 and has become a weapon.
“I’ve already achieved some of the individual goals I set for myself,” the 6-foot-5 Scarborough said. “As I’ve thrown it, it’s become an actual putaway or strike pitch.”
RANGERS ROUNDUP
— Double-A Frisco righthander Jose Corniell, a member of the Rangers’ 40-man roster, did not allow an earned run through his first 15.2 innings in the Texas League after returning from Tommy John surgery. He threw four perfect innings on Aug. 16 against Midland.
— Righthander Emiliano Teodo landed back at Double-A Frisco following a lengthy absence because of lower back discomfort. One of the more exciting prospects in big league camp this year, Teodo opened the season at Triple-A Round Rock but had logged just 21 innings through mid August.