TODAY: Yang has been outrighted to Triple-A Round Rock, the Rangers announced.
SEPTEMBER 15: The Rangers announced they’ve designated southpaw Hyeon-jong Yang for assignment. The move creates space on the 40-man roster for corner outfielder/designated hitter Willie Calhoun, who has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list.
Yang has been on and off the big league roster a few times this season. The 33-year-old signed a minor league deal with Texas over the offseason after a generally strong 14-year career with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization. The Rangers selected Yang to the majors a few weeks into the season but he was designated for assignment around six weeks later. He’s since been back for a pair of brief stints on the MLB roster.
Working in a swing role, Yang has tossed 35 1/3 frames of 5.60 ERA ball. He’s posted worse than average strikeout and walk numbers (15.6% and 10%, respectively) while struggling to miss bats at the big league level. Yang has an identical 5.60 ERA in 45 Triple-A innings, although he’s posted better strikeout, walk and swinging strike numbers in the minors.
Calhoun returns after missing nearly three months upon fracturing his left hand on a hit-by-pitch. Injuries have mostly derailed his past couple seasons, as the 26-year-old hasn’t managed to build upon the offensive progress he showed back in 2019. The final few weeks of this year will be big for Calhoun, who is eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter. Manager Chris Woodward recently suggested Calhoun’s lack of playing time lately could make determining whether to tender him a contract a difficult decision, so he’ll look to make that an easier call for the front office with a strong finish to the season.
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