LHP Hyeon-jong Yang designated for assignment
Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher Kelvin Bautista. To make room on the 40-man roster for Santana, the team has designated left-handed pitcher Hyeon-jong Yang for assignment. Santana has been optioned to Triple-A Round Rock.
Santana, 25, was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Saturday when the club added infielder Andy Burns to its Major League roster. He has posted a 6.00 ERA (10 ER/15.0 IP) over a career-high 16 relief appearances with Los Angeles this season spanning his lone stint in the Majors from April 4-May 26. Despite being optioned on May 27, he still ranks sixth on the L.A. staff in appearances this season. Santana has pitched for the Dodgers in each of the last four seasons, posting a 6.42 ERA with 8.0 strikeouts per 9 innings over 32 relief outings. He had a 4.32 ERA (4 ER/8.1 IP) with one walk and 10 strikeouts over 8 outings during Spring Training.
The Dominican Republic native was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2013, posting a 4.34 ERA with 10.2 strikeouts per 9 innings in 122 games/77 starts over 7 minor league seasons, all in the Dodgers organization. He converted from shortstop to the mound after his first pro season and has worked primarily as a starter throughout his minor league career, producing no record and a 10.13 ERA (6 ER/5.1 IP) across 3 starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. His last outing was a start on Friday vs. El Paso (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R).
Bautista has been with the Rangers’ group in Surprise, Arizona for extended spring training games, but he has not seen action in an official game since 2019. He has a career 3-1 record with a 3.70 ERA (23 ER/56.0 IP) over 32 relief appearances in the Dominican Summer League (2018-19) and Arizona League (2019). The Dominican Republic native was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2017.
Yang went 0-3 with a 5.59 ERA in 8 games/4 starts during his lone stint with the Rangers from April 26-June 15 before he was optioned to Round Rock (AAA) prior to the club’s game on Wednesday. The Rangers have seven days to trade, release, or outright Yang to the minor leagues.
Following today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with eight players on the 60-day Injured List.
