Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced the following transactions prior to Friday night’s series opener against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field:
- Infielder Blaine Crim (#13) contract selected from Triple-A Round Rock.
- Infielder Jonathan Ornelas recalled from Triple-A Round Rock.
- Infielder Jake Burger optioned to Triple-A Round Rock.
- Infielder Nick Ahmed designated for assignment.
Crim, 27, slashed 313/.365/.565/.930 (36-115) with 7 home runs, one triple, 6 doubles, 25 RBI in 28 games with Round Rock this season, ranking among Pacific Coast League leaders in home runs (T1st), total bases (2nd, 65), hits (T4th), RBI (6th), and slugging pct. (8th). He was selected Pacific Coast Player of the Week for March 31-April 6 after batting .520 (13-25) with 6 extra-base hits and 9 RBI over a 6-game series against Toledo that week. The infielder has made starts at first base (20) and designated hitter (8) for the Express, converting all 164 of his total defensive chances at first base.
Since the start of 2023, Crim ranks among Triple-A hitters in hits (1st, 319), doubles (1st, 70), total bases (1st, 552), RBI (2nd, 219), runs (2nd, 193), and home runs (T8th, 49). The right-handed batter and thrower has combined to slash .296/.372/.507/.879 with 110 home runs, 9 triples, 130 doubles, and 420 RBI in his six-year minor league career (all with Texas org.), leading Rangers farmhands since 2019 in home runs, hits, doubles, and RBI. The Mobile, Ala. native was originally selected by the Rangers in the 19th round of the 2019 MLB Draft from Mississippi College.
Ornelas, 24, is embarking on his second stint with the Rangers this season (also March 30-April 8) after going 0-for-4 with one walk over 3 games/one start (at shortstop) in his previous action. He has spent the balance of the campaign at Round Rock, batting .145 (8-55) with 5 RBI in 18 games, including 17 starts at shortstop (9), second base (4), third base (3), and leftfield (1). Ornelas has converted 56 of his 60 total chances at Triple-A for a .933 fielding percentage.
The infielder has seen Major League action in three consecutive seasons (2023-25), batting .188 (9-48) with 2 doubles and 3 RBI in 29 games/14 starts at third base (9 GS), shortstop (4 GS), and second base (one GS). The Glendale, Ariz. native has spent the entirety of his professional career in the Texas organization after he was selected by the Rangers in the 3rd round of the 2018 MLB Draft from Raymond S. Kellis High School.
Burger, 29, hit .190/.231/.330/.561 (19-100) with 3 home runs, 5 doubles, 12 RBI, 3 walks, 32 strikeouts, and 13 runs scored in 30 games for Texas this season. He started 29 of the club's first 32 games at first base, holding a .987 fielding percentage (3 E/236 TC) with 25 assists. Burger was acquired by the Rangers from the Miami Marlins on 12/11/24 in exchange for infielders Max Acosta and Echedry Vargas, and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza.
The Rangers have seven days to trade, release, or outright Ahmed to the minor leagues. The 35-year-old infielder had his contract selected by Texas on April 23 and appeared in 5 games for the Rangers, going 0-for-9 with one walk, 3 strikeouts, and one stolen base in 5 games/3 starts at shortstop. He has appeared in the Majors in each of the last 12 seasons with Arizona (2014-23), San Francisco (2024), Los Angeles-NL (2024), San Diego (2024), and Texas (2025).
With today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with three players (Cody Bradford, Jon Gray, Josh Sborz) on the 60-day Injured List.