Jansen is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Mariners on Saturday.
It'll be the second time in three days that Jansen will be on the bench, with Kyle Higashioka serving behind home plate and batting ninth while catching Nathan Eovaldi. Jansen went 1-for-5 with a double and two strikeouts in Friday's 5-0 win over Seattle.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Smacks first homer of 2026
Rotowire
Higashioka went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer during the Rangers' 3-2 win over the Mariners on Tuesday.
Higashioka gave the Rangers the lead for good in the fifth inning, when he took George Kirby deep to left-center field for a two-run homer for his first long ball of the season. It was Higashioka's fourth start behind home plate in 11 games, and for now, it looks like he is the clear second option at catcher behind Danny Jansen to open the 2026 season.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: On bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
Through Texas' first six games, Higashioka has drawn two starts at catcher to Danny Jansen's four. The Rangers could split the reps fairly equitably between the two backstops this season, but at least in the early going, Jansen looks to be Option 1A of the duo.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Late scratch Saturday
Rotowire
Higashioka was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants due to back tightness, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Willie MacIver was a late addition to the starting nine at catcher in place of Higashioka, whose removal from the lineup has been described as a "precaution." The veteran backstop previously missed time earlier in camp due to the same injury, which has limited him to just seven at-bats in Cactus League play over the past 10 days.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Ready to play Sunday
Rotowire
Higashioka (back) will start at catcher and bat third in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Mariners.
The veteran backstop had been out of the spring lineup for the past four days due to a back issue but appears to be good to go moving forward. Heading into his second season in Texas, Higashioka is likely to be part of a timeshare with Danny Jansen behind the dish.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Retreating to bench
Rotowire
Higashioka is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.
Higashioka will get a break for the series opener in Houston after he caught eight innings and went 1-for-4 at the dish in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Mets. Jonah Heim will step in for Higashioka behind the dish Monday.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Out of Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Higashioka isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets.
Higashioka will sit down for the second straight game Saturday after beginning September 3-for-22 with an RBI and two runs scored through seven games. Jonah Heim will fill in behind the dish and bat seventh.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Taking seat Friday
Rotowire
Higashioka is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets.
Higashioka is out of the lineup for the second time in three games, yielding to Jonah Heim behind the dish for Friday's series opener. In his last 11 games, Higashioka is 10-for-40 with two home runs and three doubles.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Homers again
Rotowire
Higashioka went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run, an RBI single and a sacrifice fly during Wednesday's 20-3 win over the Angels.
Higashioka delivered his third five-RBI game of the season Wednesday and belted a home run for a second consecutive game. The catcher's three-run homer off position player Oswald Peraza was part of an eight-run seventh inning. Higashioka now has 10 long balls in 2025, reaching double-digits in the category for a fifth consecutive season.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Goes deep in win
Rotowire
Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-3 win over the Angels.
Higashioka contributed to the win with a solo blast in the fourth inning that finished Texas' scoring for the game. It was his ninth homer of the season and snapped an 0-for-13 run.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Picking up rest Monday
Rotowire
Higashioka is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.
After starting at catcher or designated hitter in each of the previous three games, Higashioka looks to be receiving a breather Monday. Jonah Heim will fill in for him behind the plate in the series opener.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Dealing with hamstring issue
Rotowire
Higashioka is out of the lineup for a third straight game Monday against the Royals due to a hamstring injury, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy has labeled Higashioka's injury as "very, very, very mild," so the expectation is that the catcher will avoid a stint on the injured list. Jonah Heim will handle catching duties Monday, but Higashioka could return to the lineup as soon as Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Resting Sunday
Rotowire
Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Higashioka will get a breather for the series finale after starting behind the plate Friday. Jonah Heim will form a battery with starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi on Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Swats homer in loss
Rotowire
Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays.
Higashioka gave the Rangers an early lead with a three-run homer in the second inning. The blast was his fourth home run over the last 11 games, a span in which he slashed .289/.325/.684 with eight RBI and eight runs scored.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Getting rest Monday
Rotowire
Higashioka is absent from the lineup for Monday's game versus the Diamondbacks.
Higashioka has taken on a bigger share of the catching duties for the Rangers lately, but he'll get a breather for Monday's series opener. Jonah Heim will start behind the plate and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Sitting Saturday
Rotowire
Higashioka is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Phillies on Saturday.
Higashioka will get a breather while Jonah Heim works behind home plate and bats eighth. Higashioka has been productive in 13 games since the All-Star break and has a .946 OPS with one steal, three home runs and five RBI over that span.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Out of Monday's lineup
Rotowire
Higashioka is not in the lineup for Monday's tilt against the Yankees.
Higashioka started both of the previous two contests and five of the last six games, but he'll take a seat in Monday's series opener. Jonah Heim will handle catching duties and will bat eighth for the Rangers.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Could pinch hit Sunday
Rotowire
Higashioka (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Higashioka will be on the bench for a fourth consecutive game while he tends to what manager Bruce Bochy has called "half of a Grade 1" right hamstring strain, according to MLB.com. Jonah Heim will once again get the nod behind the plate, though Bochy expressed optimism that Higashioka will be able to pinch hit Sunday, if needed, per Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Not playing Friday
Rotowire
Higashioka (hamstring) is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against Atlanta on Friday.
Higashioka will be sidelined for a second consecutive game due to a mild hamstring strain that he suffered during the Rangers' win over the Athletics on Tuesday. Jonah Heim will serve behind home plate and bat seventh.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Nursing mild strain
Rotowire
Higashioka was diagnosed with a mild hamstring strain and will be out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Higashioka's hamstring injury resulted in him making an early exit from Tuesday's 6-2 win. Despite the backstop's diagnosis, manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that he's hopeful Higashioka can avoid a trip to the injured list. Jonah Heim will start behind the plate in Wednesday's series finale and will likely operate as the Rangers' primary catcher until Higashioka is healthy.
