The Texas Rangers have received encouraging news from their minor-league system, with right-handed pitcher David Davalillo earning Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week honors after delivering his strongest performance of the 2026 season.
Davalillo, who currently pitches for the Round Rock Express, was recognized for his outstanding outing during the week of August 11-16. His dominant performance came at an important point in his season, particularly after experiencing some struggles earlier in the year. The award represents a significant turnaround for a pitcher who has had to navigate several levels of the Rangers’ organization while working to rediscover his best form.
The Rangers also made another interesting move within their farm system, reportedly promoting two-way prospects Josh Owens and Seong-Jun Kim from the Arizona Complex League to Low-A Hickory. Both teenagers have shown promise while developing as players who can contribute both on the mound and in the field.
Davalillo entered the 2026 season with considerable attention after being added to Texas’ 40-man roster during the winter. That decision came after a breakout 2025 campaign that helped establish him as one of the organization’s more intriguing pitching prospects.
He began this season with Double-A Frisco, where he produced respectable numbers across five starts. In 23.1 innings, Davalillo recorded a 3.86 ERA while striking out 36 batters and issuing only eight walks. Those numbers suggested that he was capable of continuing his upward progression through the Rangers’ system.
His move to Triple-A Round Rock, however, proved much more difficult.
Davalillo struggled to establish consistency at the higher level, surrendering a 7.59 ERA over 21.1 innings in six appearances. The most concerning aspect of that stretch was his loss of command. A pitcher known for his ability to control the strike zone suddenly issued 21 walks and hit six batters during that period.
That represented a dramatic departure from what the Rangers had come to expect from him.
Instead of allowing the struggles to continue, the organization sent Davalillo to Arizona for several weeks so he could work through the issues. The move gave him an opportunity to make mechanical adjustments, regain confidence and focus on improving his command away from the pressure of Triple-A competition.
His route back through the system was anything but straightforward.
Following his time in Arizona, Davalillo made appearances for the ACL Rangers and High-A Hub City before returning to Double-A Frisco. He made two starts for the RoughRiders, striking out eight while walking just three across nine innings.
Those outings provided signs that the pitcher was beginning to find his rhythm again.
Davalillo subsequently returned to Round Rock, where his first two appearances in August produced mixed results. He delivered a solid three-inning relief appearance but followed it with a less impressive 4.1-inning start.
Then came August 14.
Everything appeared to click for Davalillo.
Against his opponent, he faced the minimum number of batters across six innings. The only baserunner he allowed reached on a single, while he struck out seven hitters and demonstrated the kind of command that had been missing during his earlier struggles.
Of the 76 pitches Davalillo threw, 52 were strikes.
It was easily his most impressive outing of the season and served as a powerful reminder of why the Rangers believed strongly enough in his potential to place him on the 40-man roster.
His performance also earned him the PCL Pitcher of the Week award, making the honor particularly meaningful given the difficult stretch he had experienced earlier in the campaign.
The recognition continues a strong run for the Round Rock pitching staff. Davalillo became the second Express pitcher in consecutive weeks to receive the league’s weekly pitching honor. Dalton Pence had earned the award the previous week, giving the Rangers another encouraging development within their Triple-A rotation.
While Davalillo’s award is the headline story, the promotion of Owens and Kim could prove equally interesting for the Rangers’ long-term plans.
Owens is just 19 years old and was selected by Texas in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Johnson City, Tennessee. The organization has developed him as a genuine two-way player, allowing him to gain experience both offensively and on the mound.
During his time in the Arizona Complex League this season, Owens appeared in 168 plate appearances and posted a .255 batting average, a .345 on-base percentage and a .469 slugging percentage. He struck out 62 times while drawing 16 walks.
His pitching numbers have also been encouraging.
Owens recorded a 3.48 ERA across 20.2 innings and 12 appearances. He struck out 24 batters while walking only seven. When he was not pitching, the Rangers used him in several positions, including designated hitter, shortstop and second base.
That versatility is one of the biggest reasons Owens remains an intriguing prospect.
Rather than being limited to one position, he is gaining experience across multiple areas of the game. That development could give the Rangers more options as he moves through the minor-league system.
Kim presents another fascinating prospect.
The 19-year-old was signed by Texas out of South Korea in May 2025 and, like Owens, has been developed as a two-way player. Kim bats and throws right-handed and has produced impressive offensive numbers in the complex league.
Across 160 plate appearances, Kim hit .303 with a .419 on-base percentage and a .546 slugging percentage. He recorded 51 strikeouts but also drew 24 walks, demonstrating an ability to reach base consistently.
His pitching performance was even more eye-catching.
Kim posted a 1.04 ERA across 8.2 innings in five appearances. He struck out 10 batters and allowed five walks during that limited sample. When he was not pitching, he spent time at shortstop and designated hitter.
Now, both young players are ready for a significantly different challenge.
With Arizona Complex League action completed, Owens and Kim will get their first taste of full-season baseball at Hickory as the Rangers look to give them additional experience before the 2026 season concludes.
The promotion should provide the teenagers with an opportunity to face more advanced competition and experience the demands of a longer minor-league schedule.
It could also be the beginning of a larger step in their development.
The expectation is that both players could return to Hickory to begin the 2027 campaign, giving them an opportunity to establish themselves at the next level before potentially moving higher through the organization.
Their prospect rankings suggest that the Rangers are particularly excited about what Owens and Kim could eventually become.
Owens is currently ranked No. 3 among the Rangers’ top 30 prospects by Baseball America, placing him firmly among the organization’s most highly regarded young players. Kim is ranked No. 20 on the same list, making him another prospect worth monitoring as his development continues.
For the Rangers, these developments highlight the depth and potential within their minor-league system.
Davalillo’s resurgence is especially encouraging because it demonstrates that a difficult stretch at Triple-A does not necessarily signal a setback in a player’s overall development. His ability to return to the mound, improve his command and produce a dominant six-inning performance shows why Texas has continued to invest in his development.
Meanwhile, the promotions of Owens and Kim provide another glimpse into the organization’s approach to developing versatile young talent.
The Rangers now have several intriguing storylines to follow throughout the remainder of the season. Davalillo will look to build on his award-winning performance and prove that his command issues are behind him, while Owens and Kim will begin adapting to the demands of full-season baseball.
If all three players continue progressing, their recent developments could eventually become more than just minor-league news.
For now, though, Davalillo’s dominant outing deserves the spotlight. After a season filled with challenges, the right-hander has produced the type of performance that can potentially change the direction of his year.
The PCL Pitcher of the Week award is recognition of what he accomplished, but the bigger question will be whether he can sustain that form.
If he can, the Rangers may have another promising arm beginning to emerge at exactly the right time.
