Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka has begun a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock.
Kyle Higashioka is taking another step toward returning to the Texas Rangers.
The veteran catcher began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, marking his first game action since landing on the Injured List with a flexor strain in July.
Higashioka was placed on the IL on July 21 after appearing in 58 games for Texas. Before the injury, he had been part of a three-man catching arrangement alongside Danny Jansen and Elias Díaz, giving the Rangers several options behind the plate.
His offensive production had been inconsistent, however. Higashioka entered his absence hitting .218 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs. While those numbers were not particularly strong, his experience and defensive ability give Texas another potential option as the club navigates the final portion of the season.
His first rehab appearance came as the designated hitter rather than behind the plate, which is part of the Rangers' current approach to getting him back into game shape.
Higashioka went 1-for-5 in the contest, recording a single while striking out three times.
The result itself is less important than getting him back into competitive at-bats. After spending more than a month away from game action, Higashioka will need to regain his timing and comfort at the plate before the Rangers determine whether he is ready to rejoin the major-league roster.
For now, Texas plans to use him strictly as a hitter during his rehab assignment.
That could also provide a clearer indication of how the Rangers intend to use him if he returns. With the regular season approaching its final weeks, Higashioka could initially serve as a bench option rather than immediately reclaiming a prominent role behind the plate.
His return would nevertheless give Texas additional catching depth at an important point in the season.
The Rangers are not the only team dealing with an important player working his way back, and Higashioka's rehab comes alongside continued progress from Josh Jung.
Jung has increased the intensity of his running work as he continues recovering, gradually moving closer to the point where he can run the bases at full speed. He has also continued taking live batting practice, including sessions against Rangers pitchers and minor leaguers.
Unlike Higashioka, Jung has been completing nearly every other baseball activity. Running at full speed remains the primary hurdle before he can take the next step toward a rehab assignment of his own.
For Higashioka, the process is somewhat simpler: accumulate at-bats, evaluate how his body responds and determine whether he can contribute before the season concludes.
There is limited time remaining on the schedule, making each game of his rehab assignment increasingly important. The Rangers will not want to rush him back from the flexor issue, but a healthy Higashioka could still provide useful depth for the final stretch.
His first game was hardly a dominant offensive performance, but that was not the objective.
After spending weeks on the sidelines, simply getting back into game action represents meaningful progress. The next few appearances will give Texas a better idea of how close Higashioka is to being ready for a potential return to the Rangers.
