Infielder Jonah Bride is reuniting with Rangers manager Skip Schumaker after agreeing to a minor league deal with Texas, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Bride looks to regain the strong form he showed in 2024, when he delivered a late-season breakout under Schumaker in Miami.
The Texas Rangers are taking an optimistic chance on a familiar player-manager combo. Infielder Jonah Bride has signed a minor league deal with an invitation to Major League Spring Training, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Bride enjoyed the best stretch of his big-league career under Schumaker’s guidance. Although he opened the 2024 season on the Marlins’ roster, he spent the first half splitting time between Miami and Triple-A. His turning point came on July 4, when he secured a full-time roster spot and seized the opportunity with an impressive second-half surge.
From the July 30 trade deadline through the end of the season, Bride became one of Miami’s most productive hitters. Across his final 56 games, he delivered a .284/.372/.497 slash line with a 136 wRC+ and all 11 of his home runs. His full-season numbers reflected that strong finish, as he wrapped up 2024 batting .276 with improved plate discipline and steady run production.
Bride also focused heavily on refining his defensive work at first base. While advanced metrics still graded him slightly below average, recording -1 Defensive Runs Saved and -2 Outs Above Average.
Despite the promise he showed in 2024, Bride was unable to build on that momentum the following year. His 2025 campaign proved challenging from start to finish, as he struggled to find consistency at the plate. Before being moved at the trade deadline, he hit just .170 with a .248 on-base percentage and a .436 OPS. The change of scenery offered little relief, and he was ultimately optioned to Triple-A St. Paul, the Twins’ affiliate, where he finished the season.
If Bride can rediscover the approach and confidence that powered his 2024 breakout, the reunion in Arlington could become a quietly meaningful addition for a club looking to fortify its infield options.