Arlington, TX – The Texas Rangers announced this evening that they have acquired right-handed reliever José Ruiz and cash considerations from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for right-hander Dane Dunning. Ruiz has been assigned to Triple-A Round Rock, where he will report in the coming days.
Ruiz, 30, has split the 2025 season between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves, making appearances in both the Major Leagues and Triple-A. He began the year on Philadelphia’s Opening Day roster, logging 16 outings before being designated for assignment and picked up by Atlanta on June 7. He appeared in two games for the Braves and was sent outright to Triple-A Gwinnett on June 22.
In total, Ruiz has pitched in 18 MLB games this season, posting a 1-0 record with a 8.82 ERA (16 ER/16.1 IP) and 15 strikeouts. At the Triple-A level, he’s made nine appearances, compiling a 3.72 ERA (4 ER/9.2 IP) across both organizations.
A native of Guacara, Venezuela, Ruiz began his professional career in 2011 as a catcher before converting to pitching in 2016. He debuted in the big leagues with San Diego in 2017 and has since pitched in 282 MLB games (2 starts), posting an 11-9 record, 4.62 ERA, and 284 strikeouts across stints with San Diego, Chicago White Sox, Arizona, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. He also represented Team Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings across three appearances.
Dane Dunning, 30, heads to Atlanta after logging five relief outings for the Rangers this season, with a 3.38 ERA (4 ER/10.2 IP). He also started 11 games for Triple-A Round Rock in 2025. Since joining Texas in a December 2020 trade with the White Sox, Dunning pitched in 122 games (95 starts) for the club, posting a 26-32 record with a 4.36 ERA. His MLB career began in 2020 with Chicago-AL and now continues with his fourth organization, having originally been drafted by Washington in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
Following these transactions, the Rangers now have 38 players on their 40-man roster, with Cody Bradford, Jon Gray, Tyler Mahle, and Josh Sborz remaining on the 60-day Injured List.
