Rangers sign Jarred Kelenic, select Robby Ahlstrom for MLB debut

Robby Ahlstrom’s 0.95 WHIP and 2.76 ERA at Round Rock were good enough to get him on the bus to St. Louis, and the Rangers answered with a Jarred Kelenic minor league signing as they tried to patch two needs at once. Ahlstrom was selected from Round Rock for his MLB debut at Busch Stadium against the Cardinals, a reward for a season that made him the most effective left-handed arm in the Express bullpen.

Ahlstrom, 26, is a left-hander born in Placerville, California, and drafted by the Yankees in the seventh round in 2021 out of the University of Oregon. Texas got him on April 2, 2022, in the Jose Trevino trade, and he has turned into one of Round Rock’s most dependable relievers over parts of three seasons and 83 games. He made his Triple-A debut at the end of 2024, then took another step forward in 2026 with a 1-2 record, 2.76 ERA, 29.1 innings, 33 strikeouts, eight walks and a 0.95 WHIP in 21 appearances.

The numbers explain the promotion better than any press release could. Ahlstrom led Round Rock relievers in ERA, WHIP and innings pitched, and ranked second on the club in strikeouts. He also stood fourth among left-handed pitchers in Express Triple-A era appearances and was one of only 17 pitchers in franchise history to work more than 100 innings, which says as much about durability as it does about effectiveness. For a Rangers bullpen that needed another left-handed option right now, that profile fit.

Texas also added Kelenic, another former top prospect who has spent the last few seasons trying to reset his trajectory. The 26-year-old was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Mets, became the centerpiece of the Edwin Díaz and Robinson Canó trade to Seattle, and reached the majors in 2021. He signed a minor league deal with the White Sox in January before Atlanta outrighted him off its 40-man roster and he chose free agency.

Kelenic’s big-league line tells the story of the frustration and the remaining upside: .211/.282/.376 with 50 home runs and a 30.6 percent strikeout rate over parts of five seasons. He hit .167 with a .531 OPS in 24 games for Atlanta in 2025, but his 2023 season still stands out, when he posted a 111 OPS+ and 1.5 fWAR. With Cody Freeman and Luis Curvelo also recalled, the Rangers spent the day not just filling spots, but reshaping the ladder from Round Rock to Arlington.