SAM HUFF NEWS

First baseman Nathaniel Lowe back with Rangers after missing first 20 games with oblique strain

Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe has been activated from the injured list after missing the first 20 games of the season because of a right oblique strain

APRIL 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Recalled from Triple-A The Rangers recalled Huff from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Impact With Jonah Heim (bereavement) away from the team, Huff will join the big-league roster to give the Rangers security behind the dish. The 26-year-old is slashing .321/.415/.607 across 65 plate appearances in the minors and will likely return to Round Rock once Heim returns.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

Misses out on Opening Day roster The Rangers optioned Huff to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Impact Earlier in spring training, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy teased the idea of keeping a third catcher on the Opening Day roster behind Jonah Heim and Andrew Knizner, but Huff apparently won't be under consideration for a spot now that he's been an early cut in camp. Even though he's nominally a catcher, Huff provides more value with the bat than he does with his defense, so he likely didn't help his cause by getting off to a 1-for-16 start at the dish in Cactus League play.

MARCH 10 • ROTOWIRE

Bumped to Triple-A Huff was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.

Impact Huff saw limited playing time since being recalled Sept. 1, securing two hits in five at-bats while recording two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored in five games. He was optioned to make room for the return of Adolis Garcia (knee) and Josh Jung (thumb) from the injured list. Jonathan Ornelas was also optioned in the flurry of transactions.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in loss Huff went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Friday's 12-3 loss to the Guardians.

Impact Huff entered the blowout loss late and homered as part of the Rangers' three-run ninth inning. He's made just five plate appearances since being recalled for the month of September. Both of his hits during this latest stint in the majors are home runs.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in lone plate appearance Huff went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run Saturday in an extra-inning loss to the Twins.

Impact After being recalled from Triple-A on Friday, Huff got the start at DH on Saturday. He slugged a 430-foot, two-run home run in the second frame in his first major-league plate appearance since Aug. 9 but was taken out in favor of lefty pinch hitter J.P. Martinez two innings later. Both of Huff's long balls this season have come against right-handed hurlers, but he's gone a respectable 5-for-19 with two doubles and two RBI (albeit with nine punchouts) against southpaws.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rangers recall LHP Cody Bradford, C Sam Huff as rosters expand to start September Bradford gives the Rangers a left-handed option in the bullpen, while Huff provides right-handed support off of the bench.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • DALLASNEWS.COM

Recalled from Triple-A Texas recalled Huff from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Impact Huff will give the Rangers a fourth option at catcher as rosters expand from 26 to 28. The 25-year-old former top prospect has slashed .237/.275/.368 in 40 plate appearances this season at the major-league level.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A The Rangers optioned Huff to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

Impact With the return of Jonah Heim (wrist) from the injured list Sunday, Huff will be pushed off the Rangers' active roster. The 25-year-old backstop went 7-for-26 (.269) with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored during his latest stint in the majors, though he likely won't return to Texas again this season barring an injury to one of the Rangers' three active catchers.

AUGUST 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Three hits in win Huff started at catcher and went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 11-1 win over the White Sox.

Impact Huff recorded hits in first three plate appearances in what was his best game of the season. He's scuffled in multiple short stints in the majors this season, most recently going 1-for-11 over five games during his third tour. With Jonah Heim (wrist) landing on the injured list, Huff and Mitch Garver are splitting the catching chores. The Rangers have since added defensive specialist Austin Hedges, but according to Justice delos Santos and Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, the Garver/Huff duo will continue to get the bulk of playing time behind the plate, while Hedges gives manager Bruce Bochy roster and lineup flexibility until Heim returns.

AUGUST 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers off bench Wednesday Huff went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 13-5 win over the Astros.

Impact Huff entered the game as a pinch hitter for Jonah Heim (wrist), who left in the fifth inning. Huff's solo shot came in his first at-bat, which was also his first plate appearance since rejoining the big-league roster Saturday. The 25-year-old could have a short-term path to playing time if Heim's injury is anything more than a day-to-day concern, but Huff is unlikely to work his way into a starting role with Mitch Garver on the roster as well.

JULY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled by Rangers Huff was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Impact Huff will take the roster spot that had belonged to Corey Seager, who landed on the injured list with a sprained thumb. He doesn't have a path to many at-bats, as the Rangers already have Mitch Garver around to back up Jonah Heim, who's started the second-most games behind the plate in the entire league this season.

JULY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned back to Triple-A Texas optioned Huff to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Impact Huff drew only three plate appearances -- and did not get a start -- during his two-week stay on the Rangers' major-league roster. The 25-year-old former top prospect has posted an encouraging .836 OPS with nine home runs and 37 RBI over 41 games this season at the Triple-A level, but Texas is all set at the catcher position with Jonah Heim and Mitch Garver.

JUNE 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back in majors Huff was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Huff has spent nearly all of this season at Round Rock, where he's posted an .836 OPS with nine home runs in 41 games. He'll be the Rangers' third catcher and could get the occasional start at designated hitter.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads back to minors The Rangers optioned Huff to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

Impact Texas needed to clear a spot on the 26-man roster for the return of shortstop Corey Seager (hamstring/illness) from the 10-day injured list, and Huff ended up being the odd man out since the Rangers already have two other available options at catcher (Jonah Heim and Sandy Leon). During his week-long stay with Texas, Huff appeared in five games and went 2-for-10 with a walk and an RBI.

MAY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Called up Tuesday Huff was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.

Impact Huff will join the big-league roster for the first time this season, replacing Travis Jankowski (hamstring) on the active roster after Jankowski was placed on the 10-day injured list. Huff has produced a .267 average with five homers, 20 RBI and 11 runs scored over 90 at-bats in 22 games with Round Rock this season. The 25-year-old will likely operate as bench bat for Texas while making an occasional start behind the plate.

MAY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sam Huff Heats Up for Round Rock Follow along here for updates on the Texas Rangers minor league affiliates throughout the 2023 season.

APRIL 27, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Rangers release veteran catcher León from minor league deal

The Texas Rangers released veteran catcher Sandy León from his minor league contract after breaking camp from Arizona

MARCH 27, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Optioned to Triple-A Huff was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock by the Rangers on Sunday.

Impact Huff comes up short in his bid to be a bench option for the Rangers to open the season. The 24-year-old isn't long removed from being considered one of the better catching prospects in baseball, and he should get regular at-bats with Round Rock with a chance to help Texas before the end of 2023.

MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rangers, Diamondbacks 'B' Game Notables José Leclerc and Sam Huff were among the top Texas performers in Spring Training “B” game against Arizona.

MARCH 7, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Returns to action Monday Huff (shoulder) caught two innings and drew a walk in his lone plate appearance in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Rockies in Cactus League play.

Impact Huff returned to action for the first time since last Wednesday, when he sustained a right shoulder injury in a game against the Padres. The Rangers never expressed much concern about the condition of Huff's shoulder, and his ability to check back in behind the plate less than a week later suggests he'll be ready to go for the start of the regular season.

MARCH 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Unconcerned about injury Huff said Thursday that the right shoulder injury which forced him to exit Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Padres felt more like a cramp, Evan Grant of The Dallas Mornin...

Impact Huff's removal from the contest was initially attributed to right shoulder tightness, but if the injury is more in the vein of a cramp, he'll likely be ready to play in a few days. The 25-year-old is projected to begin the season in the minors unless the Rangers wind up carrying three catchers on the Opening Day roster.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Leaves with shoulder tightness Huff left Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Padres with right shoulder tightness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Huff played just one inning before giving way to Cody Freeman in the split-squad contest. The backstop will be re-evaluated on Thursday. Huff has flashed tremendous power in the minors and some brief samples in the majors, but has battled injuries over the past two-plus seasons. Further clarity on his status going forward should be available in the coming days.

MARCH 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rangers Spring Training Preview: Sam Huff Sam Huff is the Texas Rangers’ top prospect at catcher, but his path to being a full-time starter is blocked for now.

FEBRUARY 3, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Rangers 40-Man Roster Wraps: Sam Huff The Texas Rangers’ top-rated catching prospect is still trying to find his footing in a crowded situation behind the plate.

NOVEMBER 7, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM