The Kansas City Royals today announced a one-year contract with right-handed pitcher Alex Lange. Kansas City now has 40 players on its Major League Reserve List.
Lange, 30, appeared in just 1 game for Detroit in 2025—his fifth Major League season—after beginning the season on the 60-day Injured List with a right lat strain. He was removed from the IL on Aug. 18 and made a relief appearance that night in Houston, pitching a scoreless 9th inning.
He was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Aug. 22, where he spent the remainder of the season. Spanning 26 overall appearances in the minors this year, including his rehab assignment, he went 2-1 with a 4.62 ERA (13 ER in 25.1 IP) and 32 strikeouts (11.4 K/9).
Over five Major League seasons with the Tigers, he’s gone 15-15 with 29 saves in 196 relief appearances, while recording 222 strikeouts in 184.2 innings pitched (10.8 K/9). Among American League pitchers who have made at least 175 appearances since the start of 2021, his 10.8 K/9 rate ranks 11th, trailing leader Aroldis Chapman (13.9 K/9).
Lange attended Lee’s Summit West High School (Mo.) and went to Louisiana State University, after which he was selected by the Cubs in the 1st round (30th overall) of the 2017 Draft.
