Josh

Smith

It’s unclear if Smith will have a regular role in Toronto. As of now, it seems likely that he could back up at 2B, 3B, SS, and LF and hope to recoup some of his value heading into arbitration.

Smith was a darling for the Rangers in 2025 as a utility player, but he hit .213/.299/.272 in 154 plate appearances this year and has spent most of the season in Triple-A. Macko is a 25-year-old left-handed pitcher who was moved to the bullpen this season. He has a 4.91 ERA in 22 innings for the Blue Jays, but he has shown strikeout upside in the minors as a starter before, so it remains to be seen how the Rangers want to use him.

Smith has been out of the Rangers plans in 2026, playing just 45 games while hitting .213/.299/.272. The Rangers are operating as if the 2024-2025 version of Smith doesn’t appear to be coming back any time soon.

Smith bolsters Texas’ infield depth with third baseman Josh Jung landing on the injured list with a calf strain. The versatile 28-year-old has mostly stuck to second base this season, but he’s capable of playing almost anywhere on the diamond. The big issue for him has been offensive production since he’s hit just .230 with one homer and two steals in 40 games this season. He spent the last couple weeks in the minors after Wyatt Langford came off the injured list.

Smith’s bat actually showed some signs of life this time around, but with Wyatt Langford (hamstring) returning from the injured list on Thursday, he gets squeezed off of the Rangers’ bench. He’ll return to an everyday role at the Triple-A level until he’s needed once more.

Smith entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and ambushed a first-pitch fastball from Beau Brieske for a 406-foot (104.1-mph EV) solo shot that increased the Rangers’ lead to 6-3. He also added an RBI single in the seventh that made it a 9-3 ballgame. This was a nice highlight in what has otherwise been a forgettable season for Smith. The versatile 28-year-old is slashing an anemic .238/.331/.295 with just one home run, eight RBI and two stolen bases in 121 plate appearances.

Smith had hit .218/.316/.248 in 117 plate appearances with the Rangers at the start of the season before being demoted to Triple-A. The 28-year-old is not in the lineup on Wednesday, with Justin Foscue playing second base and batting first against a left-handed pitcher and Nicky Lopez playing shortstop and batting ninth. It remains to be seen if Smith will play over Foscue when right-handers are on the mound.

Smith had been a key cog in the Rangers’ lineup as a utilityman the past couple of seasons, but given his struggles this season, Ezequiel Duran has stepped into that role. The 28-year-old has hit just .218/.316/.248 with zero homers, six RBI and two stolen bases in 117 plate appearances for the Rangers this season. He’ll see if he can get back on track while seeing every day at-bats at Triple-A.

Smith returns to Texas’ infield mix after missing nearly six weeks. The 28-year-old hit the shelf with a glute strain back in early May but wound up being hospitalized for over one week viral meningitis during his rehabilitation process. The versatile 28-year-old has mostly played second base this season and was off to a slow start, hitting .217/.324/.239 with zero homers and two steals through 31 games.

Smith remains without a definitive return timetable, but he’s back on the diamond again after being hospitalized for over one week with viral meningitis earlier this month. The 28-year-old is expected to make a full recovery and should be cleared for a rehab assignment at some point in early June. He’s been on the injured list recovering from a glute strain and wrist inflammation since May 4.