Player News
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Double-A Frisco reinstated Zavala (elbow) from its 7-day injured list Wednesday. The 22-year-old outfielder is expected to make his 2023 debut Wednesday against Amarillo. Between stops at Frisco and High-A Hickory in 2022, Zavala slashed .277/.420/.453 with 16 home runs and 14 stolen bases before undergoing Tommy John surgery in October.
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Double-A Frisco is expected to reinstate Zavala (elbow) from its 7-day injured list either Tuesday or Wednesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. Though Zavala hasn't seen any game action for any of the Rangers' lower-level minor-league affiliates since opening the season on the IL, the organization evidently feels comfortable with what they've seen from the 22-year-old outfield during workouts and simulated games at extended spring training over the past month. Since Zavala is returning to action after undergoing surgery in October on his throwing elbow, he could be eased back in as a designated hitter for Frisco before playing the outfield.
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Zavala (elbow), who was placed on Double-A Frisco's 7-day injured list April 6, was cleared to face live pitching last week at extended spring training, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports. The outfielder remains on the mend from the UCL brace procedure he underwent last November as an alternative to Tommy John surgery. The 22-year-old started a throwing program in late January and has reached a major milestone in his recovery by facing pitching, but he's still a couple weeks away from being ready to play in extended spring training games. Wilson relays that if Zavala steers clear of any setbacks, he could be cleared to make his 2023 debut for Frisco by the middle of May.
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Zavala underwent elbow surgery last week, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports. The 22-year-old is dealing with an UCL injury but underwent a brace procedure instead of Tommy John surgery. Zavala is one of the Rangers' top prospects and worked his way up to Double-A Frisco in 2022, where he posted a .284/.406/.495 slash line with five home runs, 20 RBI and four steals in 29 games. He's not expected to be fully recovered for spring training but could be cleared for game action in May.
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Zavala slashed .277/.420/.453 with 16 homers, 14 steals and an 89:108 BB:K across 111 games split between High-A and Double-A this season. A 22-year-old hitting well in High-A isn't big news, but Zavala was even better following his promotion to Double-A, which certainly adds to his prospect allure. A second-round pick in 2021, he put up a terrifically well-rounded performance in his first look at full-season ball this year, showing off his remarkable plate discipline while flashing both pop and speed. He may not grow into a fantasy superstar outside of leagues that count OBP, but Zavala looks like he's got all the tools to be a solid big-league outfielder.