Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Back in action at Round Rock
Rotowire
Apostel has appeared in three games for Triple-A Round Rock since returning from a knee injury, going 3-for-12 with a solo home run, a double and a walk in those contests.
After debuting for Round Rock on April 5, Apostel was sidelined for two weeks before re-entering the lineup April 19. He's expected to play first base on a near-everyday basis for Round Rock now that he's healthy again.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Outrighted to Triple-A
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Apostel (knee) was outrighted to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Apostel was designated for assignment last week, but he'll remain in the organization after clearing waivers. It's not yet clear when the 23-year-old will be available since he was recovering from September knee surgery during spring training.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Removed from 40-man roster
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The Rangers designated Apostel (knee) for assignment Thursday.
Since reaching the majors as a 21-year-old late in the 2020 season, Apostel has seen his prospect star dim considerably. He didn't see any big-league action in 2021, as he was optioned to Double-A Frisco last spring and posted an underwhelming .736 OPS in 167 plate appearances. Apostel was still able to earn a call-up in early August to Triple-A Round Rock, where he continued to disappoint with a .205/.284/.282 slash line in 88 plate appearances before he underwent season-ending knee surgery in September. Apostel is believed to be nearing the finish line in his rehab program, but he'll still likely be required to begin the season on the injured list at the Triple-A or Double-A level with either the Rangers or another organization, if he happens to get claimed off waivers.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Sent to minors
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The Rangers optioned Apostel (knee) to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.
Apostel was one of three 40-man roster players the Rangers sent back to minor-league camp Monday, with catcher Sam Huff and pitcher Ricky Vanasco (elbow) also getting shipped out. The 23-year-old third baseman saw his 2021 campaign come to an end in September after he required surgery to address a knee injury, but he's progressing nicely in his recovery, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Apostel is expected to resume full baseball activities within two weeks, so he could be ready to go when Round Rock begins its season in early April.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Undergoes season-ending surgery
Rotowire
Apostel will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to address an issue with his knee cartilage, independent baseball journalist Jeff Wilson reports.
It doesn't sound like a major procedure, as the infielder is expected to be ready for spring training. Apostel struggled after being promoted to Triple-A in early August, slashing just .205/.284/.282 with one homer across 78 at-bats.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Moves up to Triple-A
Rotowire
Apostel was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock from Double-A Frisco on Monday.
The 22-year-old returned from the injured list for Frisco on July 28 after missing nearly a month with an unspecified injury, and he'll quickly move up to the highest level of the minors. Apostel posted a .236/.317/.419 slash line and 31.1 percent strikeout rate at Double-A this season, and he may need to improve upon those numbers at Triple-A to be in the mix for a big-league call-up down the stretch.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Rejoins Frisco
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Apostel (undisclosed) has gone 1-for-11 over three games with Double-A Frisco since the affiliate reinstated him from its 7-day injured list July 28.
Apostel was out of action for about three weeks with the unspecified injury before he began a week-long rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on July 20. The 22-year-old is expected to settle into an everyday role at first or third base for Frisco now that he's healthy again, and his presence on Texas' 40-man roster could keep him in the mix for a call-up to the big club in September.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Rehabbing in ACL
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Apostel, who was placed on Double-A Frisco's 7-day injured list July 6 with an unspecified injury, began a rehab assignment with the Rangers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate last week. Through four ACL games, Apostel has gone 5-for-12 with three home runs, three walks, six runs and eight RBI.
Apostel is on the IL for a second time this season after he was previously shut down with an injury in May for just over a week. While his recovery from his latest medical setback has taken a bit longer, the fact that he's playing in games at the rookie-ball level suggests his return to Frisco is imminent. Over 155 plate appearances at Double-A this season, Apostel is slashing .248/.329/.445 with six home runs and 20 RBI.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Lands on MiLB IL
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Double-A Frisco placed Apostel on the 7-day injured list Tuesday with what is believed to be a leg cramp or strain, Adam J. Morris of LoneStarBall.com reports.
Apostel picked up the injury during Frisco's game Sunday. Once he returns from the IL and proves he can handle Double-A pitching, the 22-year-old third baseman could get another look in Texas at some point later this summer after receiving a cup of coffee with the Rangers in 2020. Neither of the Rangers' top two third basemen currently on the 40-man roster (Brock Holt and Charlie Culberson) is viewed as a long-term answer at the position.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Opening at Frisco
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Apostel will start the season at Double-A Frisco, Sam Blum of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Apostel spent time with the Rangers during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, but the power-hitting prospect will resume a normal minor-league progression this season. Prior to his seven-game run in MLB, Apostel had reached High-A.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Optioned to Triple-A
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Apostel was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Apostel could have theoretically been a part of the battle for the starting third base role, which features uninspiring options like Rougned Odor and Brock Holt. The Rangers evidently feel he's not ready yet, and it's hard to argue with that decision. He jumped all the way from High-A to make his seven-game debut last season and looked clearly overmatched, going 2-for-21 with nine strikeouts. He needs some time in the upper minors before making a serious push for a big-league job.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Full-time reserve so far in spring
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Apostel (back) has made three appearances for the Rangers in Cactus League play, going 1-for-3 at the plate across those contests.
Apostel ended the 2020 season on the injured list with lower-back soreness, but he appears to have made a full recovery from the issue over the winter. Though the Rangers are hopeful the 21-year-old corner infielder can eventually emerge as an everyday player at the big-league level, he doesn't appear to be in consideration for a full-time role in Texas to begin 2021. He's been used as a reserve in each of his three games in spring training.
Apostel was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with lower-back tightness.
The 21-year-old was lifted from Thursday's game with back spasms and will end up missing the final weekend of the season. Apostel received his first taste of the majors this year and went 2-for-20 with one double, one run and one walk in seven games.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Likely done for season
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Rangers manager Chris Woodward said Apostel (back) is unlikely to play again this season, Sam Blum of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Apostel was removed from Thursday's game with back spasms. The rookie had just two hits in 20 at-bats at the time of his injury.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Leaves with back issue
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Apostel exited Thursday's game against the Astros after tweaking his back while diving for a groundball, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa moved to third base, with Andrew Romine entering the game at shortstop following Apostel's exit. More details regarding the extent of the injury should be known after the game.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Commits costly error
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Apostel started at first base and went 0-for-4 while committing a costly error in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Angels.
Apostel, a third baseman by trade, made his second start at first base for the Rangers. He allowed a groundball to sneak past him in the eighth inning, which eventually led to the Angels' game-winning run. "It's a play he's got to make," Texas manager Chris Woodward told T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. "He knows that. Ton of topspin on that ball. He's just got to spear the baseball. Obviously, it could have been a double play if he could just catch it and throw to second." The Rangers will enter the offseason with first base unsettled. It's unlikely they would use Apostel there in 2021, but the organization appears to be grooming him for the position long term. He started 10 games there in the minors in addition to 231 starts at third base.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Makes second start
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Apostel started at first base and went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Astros.
Apostel, one of Texas' top hitting prospects, made just his second start since being summoned from the alternate camp Sept. 12. His first start came at third base, the position he's played in the minor leagues. This start at first base comes as Ronald Guzman is mired in a 3-for-25 slump. The Rangers don't have a set first baseman for 2021, but it's unlikely they hand the job to the 21-year-old Apostel.
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Rangers' Sherten Apostel: Making big-league debut
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Apostel was called up from the alternate training site and will start at third base in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Athletics, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
The 21-year-old is one of the Rangers' top prospects and will make his major-league debut while Elvis Andrus (back) heads to the injured list. Apostel finshed 2019 at High-A Down East and has a .237/.352/.378 slash line with four homers in 41 games, so he'll jump to the big leagues without a single appearance at Double-A or Triple-A.
