Zak Kent Returns to Rangers, Hoping to Bolster Bullpen Depth After Whirlwind Offseason

Zak Kent is back in Arlington. The right-hander, originally drafted by the Rangers in the ninth round back in 2019, has returned to the organization after being claimed off waivers from the St.

Louis Cardinals on Friday. It’s a full-circle moment for the 27-year-old, who spent the bulk of his early pro career in Texas before a busy offseason sent him bouncing between teams.

Kent made his MLB debut in 2025, logging 17.2 innings across 12 appearances. His stat line-1-0 record, 4.58 ERA, 16 strikeouts, eight walks, and a 1.42 WHIP-doesn’t jump off the page, but it does hint at a pitcher still finding his footing at the big-league level. He earned his first career win in a wild 9-8 Guardians victory over the Rangers on September 28, a fitting twist in what’s been a winding path.

Now, Kent re-enters a Texas bullpen picture that’s far from settled. The Rangers are in retooling mode after another offseason of free-agent turnover, and Kent will be among a long list of arms vying for a spot in the relief corps come spring training. He’s not a lock, but he’s certainly a name to watch.

A Return Home After a Brief Stint Elsewhere

Kent’s journey over the past year has been anything but straightforward. After being traded to the Guardians following his initial stint with Texas, he was released earlier this offseason.

The Cardinals scooped him up off waivers on December 5, but his time in St. Louis was short-lived-he was released earlier this week to make room on the 40-man roster for reliever Justin Bruihl.

That opened the door for the Rangers to bring him back into the fold.

A Glimpse at the Numbers

Kent’s professional career has had its highs and lows. In his debut season in 2019, he posted a 5.12 ERA across rookie ball and Low-A.

The pandemic wiped out his 2020 campaign, but he returned strong in 2021. Starting in High-A, he turned in a 2.83 ERA over 60.1 innings, earning a promotion to Double-A Frisco.

The adjustment wasn’t seamless-he struggled to a 5.34 ERA in 28.2 innings-but the upside was evident.

Fast forward to 2025, and Kent was showing real signs of progress in Triple-A with Cleveland’s affiliate. He struck out over 32 percent of batters faced, walked just 13 percent, and posted a strong 54 percent ground-ball rate. That kind of profile-miss bats, limit walks (relatively), and keep the ball on the ground-is exactly what teams look for in bullpen arms.

What This Means for Texas

The Rangers don’t need Kent to be a savior-they need him to be a reliable option. With several bullpen spots up for grabs and a front office looking to patch together a competitive relief unit, Kent offers experience, familiarity, and a touch of untapped potential. He was once ranked among the organization’s top 30 prospects, and while that designation has faded, the tools that earned it haven’t disappeared.

For Kent, this is a second chance with the club that first believed in him. For the Rangers, it’s a low-risk, potentially high-reward move to shore up depth in a bullpen that’s still taking shape. Spring training will tell us more, but for now, Zak Kent is back in Texas-and the door is open for him to carve out a role.