Sherten

Apostel

Apostel was designated for assignment last week and ultimately passed through waivers unclaimed. The 23-year-old corner infielder went 2-for-20 with nine strikeouts in his first taste of MLB action last season.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster. Apostel was already optioned to Triple-A last month and is working his way back from knee surgery. There’s a chance he’ll sneak through unclaimed.

Apostel, who is still recovering from offseason knee surgery, remains on the Rangers’ 40-man roster, but he’ll open the 2022 season in the upper minors. The 23-year-old infielder hit .235/.321/.416 with 10 homers in 271 plate appearances last year across three levels in the Rangers’ system.

Apostel had surgery last September to repair cartilage damage in his knee. His recovery is coming along nicely but he’s obviously not going to be ready to start the season.

Just some roster trimming from the rebuilding Rangers. Jung is considered the club’s top prospect and he has a chance to reach the majors at some point in 2021.

Apostel has mostly played third base in his professional career, but he’s not anything close to an elite defender at the position, and his size (6'4/235) suggests he might outgrow it soon. The 21-year-old got a brief call-up during the 2020 season; going 2-for-20 with nine strikeouts in seven games. He’s one of the top prospects in the system, and since the Rangers don’t have an obvious answer at first base right now, it makes sense that they’d give him a look at the position during the Cactus League. More than likely, Apostel will open the 2021 season in the minors, but he could receive a promotion over the summer.

Apostel hadn’t played in a few days and is now officially out for the finale. He went 2-for-20 at the plate in his first go-round in the majors.

Doesn’t sound very fun. Tejeda will sit with Isiah Kiner-Falefa moving to shortstop, and Sherten Apostel will play third. An update on when Tejeda can return should be available shortly.

Weaver was diving for a ground ball and tweaked his back, according to Weaver. The Rangers were already without Anderson Tejeda, who was scratched with a skin issue prior to the game. Andrew Rombine has taken over at third base.

The Rangers didn’t have much success against Astros starter Framber Valdez, but Apostel was able to chase him with an opposite-field double with one out in the seventh inning. The rookie came around to score on an Eli White two-out single, the only run the Rangers would muster on the evening. The highly-touted 21-year-old has two hits through his first seven at-bats at the major league level, with Thursday’s double serving as his first extra-base hit in the bigs.