Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers tonight announced that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher José Ruiz and cash considerations from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning. Ruiz, who was outrighted by Atlanta to Triple-A Gwinnett on June 22, will report to Triple-A Round Rock in the coming days.
Ruiz, 30, has split the 2025 season between the Philadelphia and Atlanta organizations, seeing action with both clubs’ Major League teams and Triple-A affiliates this year. A member of the Phillies’ Opening Day roster, the right-hander made 16 relief appearances for Philadelphia before being designated for assignment on June 1 and claimed off waivers by the Braves on June 7. Ruiz pitched in two games for Atlanta from June 8-19, was designated for assignment on June 20, and sent outright to Gwinnett on June 22. In 18 Major League relief outings this season, Ruiz is 1-0 with an 8.82 ERA (16 ER/16.1 IP) and 15 strikeouts against 9 walks. He has also totaled 9 appearances in Triple-A between the two organizations, going 0-2 with a 3.72 ERA (4 ER/9.2 IP).
A native of Guacara, Venezuela, the 9-year MLB veteran has compiled an 11-9 record with one save, a 4.62 ERA (147 ER/286.2 IP), and 284 strikeouts in 282 games/2 starts with San Diego (2017), Chicago-AL (2018-23), Arizona (2023), Philadelphia (2024-25), and Atlanta (2025). Ruiz was originally signed by the Padres in 2011 to a minor league free agent contract as a catcher before converting to a pitcher in 2016. He made his Major League debut on July 24, 2017 vs. New York-NL after just 42 minor league pitching appearances between the Rookie, Single-A, and High-A levels. Ruiz also played for Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings across 3 relief outings.
The 30-year-old Dunning posted no record with a 3.38 ERA (4 ER/10.2 IP) in 5 games (all relief) for Texas this season, also logging 12 games/11 starts for Triple-A Round Rock. Since being acquired by Texas from Chicago-AL on December 8, 2020, the right-hander went 26-32 with a 4.36 ERA in 122 appearances/95 starts for the Rangers from 2021-25. He holds a career record of 28-32 with a 4.34 ERA after debuting with the White Sox in 2020. Atlanta marks Dunning’s fourth organization, as he was initially drafted by Washington in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft before being traded to Chicago-AL in December 2016.
With tonight’s transactions, the Rangers have 38 players on the club’s Major League roster, along with four players (Cody Bradford, Jon Gray, Tyler Mahle, Josh Sborz) on the 60-day Injured List.
– RANGERS –