Texas Rangers backstop Sam Huff is starting Sunday's game as the designated hitter and batting eighth against lefty JP Sears and the Oakland Athletics. It'll be his third game of the season after starting the year in Triple-A. So far, over four at-bats, Huff's batting .250 with two strikeouts and a walk, a season after slashing .240/.303/.372 with four homers across 44 contests. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect everyday playing time for the 25-year-old, and they can opt for catchers with a better track record on the waiver wire.
Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff (shoulder) returned to Cactus League play on Monday night in the 4-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies, walking in his only plate appearance. He also caught two innings in the contest. Huff suffered a right shoulder injury in a Cactus League game last Wednesday against the San Diego Padres. The backup backstop hits the ball hard and has intriguing power, but he also strikes out a ton. In 44 games for Texas last year, he hit .240/.303/.372 with a .675 OPS, four long balls, 10 RBI and nine runs scored in 132 plate appearances in just his second major-league season. Huff will need to improve his defense behind the plate in order to get more opportunities with Texas.
The Texas Rangers recalled catcher Sam Huff from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday and optioned catcher Meibrys Viloria to Round Rock in a corresponding move. In 30 games for the Rangers earlier this year, Huff went 20-for-77 (.260) with a homer, five RBI and five runs scored. With Viloria being sent down to the farm, Huff will provide depth behind starter Jonah Heim. The 24-year-old Huff has only played in 40 major league games in two seasons, hitting a combined .287 (31-for-108) with four long balls, nine RBI, 10 runs scored and one stolen base in 115 plate appearances. He can be avoided for now in fantasy leagues.
The Texas Rangers activated catcher Sam Huff (knee) from the 60-day injured list on Saturday and optioned him to Double-A Frisco. Huff is coming back from knee surgery and was slashing .244/.340/.659 with five home runs and 10 RBI in 11 games in the Rookie League and at Frisco before he went under the knife. He's the Rangers No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and is one of the better catching prospects in baseball. Huff has plenty of raw pop in his 6-foot-5 frame from the right side of the plate, but his aggressive approach at the dish also has led to plenty of strikeouts in the minors. His size might not make him an ideal long-term backstop, but he's surprisingly athletic behind the plate with a strong arm. The 23-year-old's power should play immediately in the big leagues, but he's unlikely to be back in the majors this year after getting 31 at-bats in 2020.
Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff (knee) is starting a rehab assignment with the team's Arizona League affiliate on Monday and will serve as the designated hitter. Huff had surgery in April to remove a loose body from his right knee. Before his injury, he was hitting .355 (11-for-31) with three home runs and four RBI, so he could push for more playing time in the second half of the season when he returns from his injury. Jonah Heim and Jose Trevino are the two catchers currently on Texas' active roster.
Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff (knee) is expected to be out at least eight weeks. The prospect will be on the shelf to have surgery to remove a loose body, an injury he sustained after hurting his right knee while rehabbing from a hamstring strain. While the 23-year-old may be back behind the dish at some point, chances are he will be utilized at DH upon his return for the remainder of the 2021 campaign.
Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff will open the year at the alternate training site but that doesn't mean that he won't make a big impact in the majors in 2021 and beyond. Huff had a rough spring with just one hit in 12 at-bats and he also struck out six times. The 23-year-old rookie spent most of the 2020 season at the alternate training site but went 11-for-31 (.355) with three homers at the MLB level. He slugged 28 home runs at the A-ball level in 2019. With his grip-and-rip approach, he may never hit for a high average but the raw power potential makes him an intriguing future fantasy option especially in two-catcher leagues. For now, Texas will go with Jose Trevino and Jonah Heim behind the dish.
Sam Huff Begins Light Baseball Activities On Tuesday
Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff, who suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain at the beginning of camp, started light baseball activities on Tuesday, according to Jeff Wilson of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram. The 23-year-old backstop is the Rangers' No. 2 prospect and was very impressive over his limited appearances last season. He slashed .355/.394/.742 with three home runs and four RBI over just 31 at-bats (10 games). He will begin this season in Triple-A but will likely get called up at some point for the rebuilding Rangers. He's a name to remember in fantasy leagues, particularly in dynasty formats.
Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff is set to make his big league debut Friday against Oakland and right-hander Mike Fiers, as he gets the start behind the dish and bats eighth. Huff has never played a game above Class A Advanced, but he showed power upside in his Minor League stints with 28 home runs last season. With the Rangers beginning to look toward the future over the final few weeks of the 2020 campaign, Huff may see extended at-bats, but until he showcases his abilities, he is most likely just a punt play DFS contender at this stage.
