Just two years from capturing the first World Series title in franchise history, the Texas Rangers settled for a .500 finish last season. As they look ahead to 2026, the most glaring obstacle to improving on their 81–81 record continues to be the bullpen. On Thursday, a report from Andrew Parker of SoxProspects.com revealed that Texas turned to the Boston Red Sox organization for reinforcements, targeting a pitcher still working his way back from Tommy John surgery.
Less than two weeks after adding minor-league veteran left-handed reliever Blake Townsend from the Pittsburgh Pirates system, the Rangers made another depth move, this time signing right-hander Zach Bryant from the Red Sox organization, according to Parker.
Players who have spent at least six seasons in the minor leagues and are not included on a team’s 40-man roster at season’s end are eligible to declare minor league free agency, giving them the opportunity to sign with any organization.
That path is the one Bryant took. The 27-year-old spent five seasons in the Red Sox system and another with the Chicago Cubs before opting for free agency on November 6, the first day eligible minor leaguers were allowed to do so. After waiting through the offseason, Bryant finally found a new home on February 5, inking a deal with the Rangers.
Selected by the Cubs in the 15th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, Bryant signed for a $125,000 bonus after spending one season at Jacksonville University in Florida, and his professional career began on an encouraging note.
Splitting time between the Cubs’ Rookie League and Low-A affiliates, the right-hander posted an impressive 1.27 ERA across 12 appearances, all out of the bullpen. Relief pitching has always been Bryant’s calling card, dating back to his time at Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida, where he thrived as the team’s closer.
His early momentum was halted in 2020 when the minor league season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. Before he could resume his climb with the Cubs, Chicago dealt Bryant to the Boston Red Sox in February 2021 as the player to be named later in a trade for veteran left-hander Josh Osich.
Bryant performed well enough during the 2021 campaign to earn a promotion to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, but injuries soon derailed his progress. An elbow issue limited him to just 33 innings in 2022, during which he posted a 7.64 ERA. The setback ultimately led to Tommy John surgery, costing Bryant the entire 2023 season as he worked his way back to full health.
Bryant made his long-awaited return to game action on May 21, 2024, pitching for the Rookie-level Red Sox in the Florida Complex League before rejoining Double-A Portland roughly a month later.
However, last season marked Bryant’s first full year back following Tommy John surgery, and the results fell well short of expectations.
“Bryant, who is in his age-27 season, has had an up-and-down campaign that has featured more downs than ups,” Nick John of TalkSox.com wrote in his assessment of the right-hander’s year. “August was his worst month of the season, as he struggled across 10 1/3 innings. During that stretch, he allowed 15 runs, 11 earned, on 14 hits and nine walks, resulting in a 9.58 ERA and a 2.23 WHIP. The lone bright spot was 12 strikeouts, but beyond that, there wasn’t much positive to take away.”
By season’s end, Bryant carried a 6.14 ERA in 48 1/3 innings across 32 appearances, making his comeback campaign a difficult and disappointing one overall.
Despite growing up in Florida, Bryant has long been a devoted Red Sox fan, but it became clear that his chapter in Boston had reached its conclusion. Now, with another year of recovery behind him and further removed from surgery, Bryant will look to reset his career and seize a fresh opportunity with the Texas Rangers.