Rangers Release Lefty Anthony Veneziano to Pursue Opportunity Overseas
The Texas Rangers are parting ways with left-handed reliever Anthony Veneziano, just about a month after signing him to a minor league deal. The move, announced by the club, allows Veneziano to pursue an opportunity with an overseas team in Asia – a decision that reflects both the player’s ambition and the organization’s respect for it.
At 28, Veneziano is still working to carve out a consistent big-league role. While he wasn’t guaranteed a spot on the Rangers’ 26-man roster, he was viewed as a potential depth option in a bullpen that could use some reinforcement. But with no clear path to Arlington, the Rangers opted not to stand in the way of a chance for him to take on a more prominent role – and likely a more lucrative one – abroad.
Veneziano’s journey through the majors has been one of perseverance and flashes of promise. Drafted in the 10th round by the Kansas City Royals in 2019 out of Coastal Carolina, he made his MLB debut in 2023, tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings over two appearances. The following season, he saw limited action with the Royals before being designated for assignment in early September, which led to a brief stint with the Miami Marlins.
With Miami, Veneziano showed some upside. In 10 appearances, he posted a 3.18 ERA, notching 12 strikeouts and just two walks over 11 1/3 innings.
But consistency proved elusive. Over the full 2024 season, his ERA climbed to 4.71 across 24 outings, with 20 strikeouts and 10 walks in 21 innings.
That performance led to another DFA in August, and the St. Louis Cardinals picked him up off waivers.
His time in St. Louis was short but productive.
In two appearances, he struck out five over four innings while allowing two earned runs. After the 2025 season, Veneziano elected free agency, eventually landing with the Rangers in December.
From Texas’ perspective, holding onto Veneziano as a depth piece made sense on paper. He’s a ground-ball pitcher with some intriguing tools, and in a bullpen that’s still looking for reliable left-handed options, he could’ve been in the mix. But the reality is, without a guaranteed roster spot or a clear role, the Rangers recognized that letting him pursue a better opportunity overseas was the right call.
For Veneziano, this move could be a career reset. A strong showing in an overseas league could not only provide financial security in the short term, but also open the door for another shot at the majors down the line – possibly as soon as 2027. We’ve seen that path work for plenty of pitchers before.
While his time with the Rangers was brief, Veneziano leaves with the organization’s support and a chance to prove himself on a new stage. If he thrives overseas, don’t be surprised if his name pops back up on MLB radars in the not-too-distant future.
