A look at the 2025 Rangers NRIs

With the Rangers starting their first Spring Training game today against the Royals, let’s take a look at the former and possibly current RoughRiders players that were Non-Roster Invitees to Major League Camp!

Pitchers

Dane Acker

Among those who threw at least 140 innings in their RoughRiders career, not a single player had a better ERA than Acker’s 2.95. A Rider from 2023–24, the former Sooner will have a shot at the Round Rock rotation in 2025 or slip into the bullpen.

Robby Ahlstrom

Ahlstrom was a mainstay in the bullpen for the Riders in the second half of 2023 and first half of 2024 before finishing the season with the Express. The left-hander should have a chance at the Rangers’ bullpen in mid-season, should need arise for a lefty in Arlington.

Jesse Chavez

Jesse Chavez

This one goes in the way-back machine! Chavez played for the RoughRiders in 2005 and 2006 before going on to pitch for nine different MLB teams over a 17-year career, most recently with the Braves the last three years. He pitched for Texas in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Kohl Drake

Drake had an incredible season in 2024, ending that year with the RoughRiders. He went 9–5 with a 2.29 ERA over his 23 appearances with 19 starts. He figures to be in the RoughRiders rotation in 2025.

Skylar Hales

Hales was dominant in the Frisco bullpen last season. With a strong start to the year, the fireballer could find his way to Arlington as quickly as 2026.

Catchers

Cooper Johnson

2024 marked a career year for Johnson, who set career highs in batting average (.235), OBP (.355) SLG (.474), OPS (.829), home runs (14), K-rate (26%). His previous high in OPS was .636 before 2024. He looks to be in Triple-A in 2025.

Cooper Johnson

Infielders

Jax Biggers

Biggers played all over the field for the Riders from 2021 to 2023 and resigned with the Rangers after becoming a free agent this offseason. He’s a great utilty option for the Express this season.

Blaine Crim

A pure hitter in every sense of the word, Crim finished with 91 RBIs in 2022, tied for fourth best in a single season in franchise history, and 24 home runs (tied for sixth). With the addition of Jake Burger plus Joc Pederson taking reps at first base, Crim’s path to Arlington became very steep.

Cody Freeman

Freeman was the 2024 Rangers Minor League Defender of the Year while playing third all season for the Riders. At the plate, Freeman set career highs in games (123), runs (68), doubles (33, also led team), home runs (14), RBIs (63), stolen bases (15), batting average (.264), slugging percentage (.432), OPS (.752).

Abimelec Ortiz

Thanks to a monster second half of 2024, Ortiz finished the regular season with 18 home runs. In his last 48 games, Ortiz hit .321/.413/.592/1.005 with nine doubles, 13 home runs, 38 RBIs, 37 runs scored and 28 walks. After July 10th, in those 48 games, he is fourth in average (.321), first in OPS (1.005), tied for first in RBIs (38) and first in home runs (13). During that span, he led all of Double-A in OPS as well.

Sebastian Walcott

Sebastian Walcott

The №1 prospect in the organization, Walcott figures to be back in Frisco in 2025. Last year, electric soon-to-be 19-year-old was one of just three 18-year-olds in the last 12 seasons to record at least 20 doubles, 10 home runs and 15 steals in a season, joining the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Chourio.

Outfielders

Trevor Hauver

Hauver played for the Riders in 2022 and 2023 before spending last year with Round Rock. The outfielder has been an on-base machine his entire career, but could force his way to the big leagues with a monster season.

Alejandro Osuna

Osuna won the Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year Award last year, splitting his time between Frisco and Hickory. At still just 22 years old, Osuna also hit .306/.438/.449/.887 in 25 games during the Arizona Fall League.