The Texas Rangers added a fresh arm to their bullpen by selecting Nolan Kingham's contract from Triple-A Round Rock.
The Texas Rangers made a change to their pitching staff on Saturday, selecting the contract of right-hander Nolan Kingham from Triple-A Round Rock.
To create room on the active roster, the Rangers optioned right-handed reliever Luis Curvelo back to Triple-A one day after recalling him to the big-league club.
The promotion marks another milestone in Kingham's lengthy professional journey after spending nearly a decade working his way through the minor leagues and independent professional baseball.
While he didn't appear in Saturday's game, he is 29 years old and is slated to play at some point, perhaps in the Rangers series finale on Sunday.
Long road to the major leagues
Originally selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 2018 MLB Draft, Kingham climbed through Atlanta's farm system and reached Triple-A in 2021. Despite advancing to the organization's highest minor-league level, he never received an opportunity to pitch in the majors before being released ahead of the 2024 season.
Kingham continued his career in the Mexican League with the Sultanes de Monterrey, where he revitalized his stock. Over his first six starts this season, he posted a 1.82 ERA while displaying improved command and consistently limiting opposing hitters.
His performance overseas earned him a minor-league contract with Texas in late May, giving him another opportunity to pursue a spot in the Major Leagues.
Mixed results at Round Rock
Since joining the Rangers' organization, Kingham has appeared in 11 games, including 10 starts, for Triple-A Round Rock. While his overall numbers have been uneven, he has shown flashes that likely encouraged the club to reward him with a promotion.
His most recent outing was among his strongest of the season as he struck out nine batters across five innings while allowing just one run on two hits. The performance highlighted an increase in swing-and-miss ability compared to earlier stages of his professional career.
Texas will likely lean on Kingham as a bullpen option capable of providing multiple innings if needed.
Curvelo returns to Triple-A
Curvelo's latest stint with the Rangers proved brief. After being recalled earlier this week, the right-hander allowed four runs over two innings in relief, raising his season ERA before being sent back to Round Rock.
By replacing Curvelo with Kingham, Texas adds a fresh arm as the club continues managing its pitching staff during a demanding stretch of the regular season. The promotion also gives Kingham the opportunity to complete a years-long climb and potentially make his long-awaited Major League debut.
