The Texas Rangers signed left-handed pitcher Anthony Veneziano to a minor league deal after he was released from his contract with the SSG Landers in South Korea’s Korea Baseball Organization.
According to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News, the Rangers had their eye on Veneziano for a while now.
“Texas has liked Veneziano as a depth arm for a while. They signed him to a minor league deal in December,” Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors wrote.
But Veneziano requested his release three weeks later to chase an opportunity with the SSG Landers in the KBO.
That didn’t work out as planned. The southpaw posted a 6.10 ERA in 16 starts with the Landers before getting his release.
Now he’s back where the Rangers originally wanted him. Veneziano brings parts of three MLB seasons to the organization, having spent time with teams from 2023-25.
His big league numbers are solid enough – a 3.98 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 40.2 innings. That’s the kind of production Texas could use as a bulk reliever down the stretch.
It’s not the flashy move that gets fans excited, but Veneziano gives the Rangers organizational depth. If he gets promoted from Triple-A, he’s shown he can eat innings at the major league level.
The way I see it, bringing back a guy they originally liked makes sense. His KBO stint didn’t pan out, but his MLB track record suggests he can contribute if needed.
