Transactions: Rangers’ Jose Urena, Angels’ Miguel Sano Make Opening Day Rosters; Brazoban On Suspended List

Jose Urena of the Texas Rangers pitches during a spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Surprise Stadium on March 07, 2024 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Bailey Orr/Texas Rangers/Getty Images)

RHP Jose Urena Makes Texas Rangers Opening Day Roster – Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on March 26 that Urena made the opening day roster for the Rangers. 

Jose Urena had made the Rangers opening day roster

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 26, 2024

Urena, 32, was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and has played nine seasons in Major League Baseball with the Miami Marlins from 2015-20, the Detroit Tigers in 2021, the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022, the Colorado Rockies from 2022-23, and the Chicago White Sox in 2023. 

In spring training with Texas, Urena made four appearances and three starts posting a 1-1 record with a 2.25 ERA throwing 16 innings allowing 16 hits, four earned runs, one home run, three walks, 14 strikeouts, and a 1.188 WHIP. 

Urena signed a minor league contract with Texas on January 16, which included an invite to MLB camp. 

Last season, Urena started with the Rockies in five games and posted a 0-4 record with a 9.82 ERA throwing 18.1 innings allowed 27 hits, 20 earned runs, nine home runs, 14 walks, and nine strikeouts. 

Urena was released by Colorado on April 27, 2023 before he signed as a free agent on May 2, 2023 with the Washington Nationals to a minor league contract and was assigned to Triple-A Rochester the same day. 

Urena started in 15 games in Triple-A Rochester and posted a 1-3 record with a 6.31 ERA throwing 67 innings allowing 80 hits, 47 earned runs, 16 home runs, 26 walks, and 56 strikeouts before Washington released him on Aug. 3 and shortly after signed a minor league contract with the White Sox on August 7. 

Urena made four starts in Triple-A Charlotte and threw 21.1 innings with a 3.38 ERA posting a 1-1 record allowing 22 hits, eight earned runs, one home run, seven walks, 20 strikeouts, and a 1.359 WHIP until his contract was selected by the White Sox on September 9. 

Urena went 0-3 on the South Side in five starts with a 4.10 ERA throwing 26.1 innings allowing 23 hits, 12 earned runs, four home runs, eight walks, 20 strikeouts, and a 1.177 WHIP. 

In his nine seasons in MLB, Urena has posted a 39-69 record with a 4.89 ERA in 199 appearances and 143 starts with one complete game and four saves throwing 839.1 innings allowing 870 hits, 456 earned runs, 116 home runs, 315 walks, 565 strikeouts, and a 1.412 WHIP. 

Texas will open at home to start the 2024 regular season on March 28 against the Chicago Cubs at 7:35 p.m. EST. 

Miguel Sano Makes Los Angeles Angels Opening Day Roster –  Sano made the Angels opening day roster, Angels manager Ron Washington told Greg Beacham of the Associated Press on March 26. 

Miguel Sano has made the Angels’ roster, Ron Washington confirms: “He’s very deserving.”

— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) March 26, 2024

Sano, 30, was born in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, and has played in eight seasons in MLB, all with the Minnesota Twins, from 2015-22. 

Sano did not play for an MLB organization in 2023. He signed with the Angels on Feb. 1 and went to the Angels’ MLB camp as a non-roster invitee. 

Sano played in 23 games during spring training and hit .204 with 11 hits, one double, four home runs, 11 RBI, one stolen base, 6 walks, 20 strikeouts, and a .740 OPS. He played in 14 games in spring training at third base and first base, and served as the designated hitter in nine games. 

During the 2023-24 LIDOM season with the Estrellas Orientales, Sano played in 27 games and batted .225 with 107 plate appearances recording 20 hits, 10 doubles, two home runs, 13 RBI, 14 walks, and 30 strikeouts. 

In Sano’s last MLB season in 2022, he played in 20 games with 71 plate appearances and batted .083 with five hits, one home run, three RBI, nine walks, and 25 strikeouts prior to him electing free agency on Nov. 7, 2022. 

The Angels will play the Baltimore Orioles on the road to open the 2024 season on March 28 at 3:05 p.m. EST.

Miami Marlins RP Huascar Brazoban On Restricted List With Visa Issue – Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reported on March 26 that Miami Marlins relief pitcher Huascar Brazoban was placed on the restricted list due to having visa issues to enter the United States and missed all of spring training. 

Marlins placed RP Huascar Brazoban on the restricted list. He was never granted a Visa to re-enter the US from the Dominican Republic and missed the entire Spring.

— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) March 26, 2024

The Marlins now have 39 players on their 40-man roster. 

Brazoban, 34, was born in Villa Mella, Dominican Republic, and has played two seasons in MLB with the Marlins from 2022-23. 

Last season, Brazoban posted a 5-2 record with a 4.14 ERA, throwing 58.2 innings in 50 appearances and allowing 53 hits, 27 earned runs, five home runs, 31 walks, 65 strikeouts, and a 1.432 WHIP. 

Brazoban landed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 14, 2023 with a left hamstring strain and was activated on Sept. 26. 

According to Darragh McDonald of MLBTradeRumors.com, “The visa issue is unfortunate for the righty, as he won’t accrue major league service time or pay for as long as he is on the restricted list.” 

In his two MLB seasons, Brazoban has an overall record of 6-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 77 appearances out of the bullpen, throwing 90.2 innings and allowing 79 hits, 38 earned runs, eight home runs, 52 walks, 105 strikeouts, and a 1.445 WHIP.