The Texas Rangers have released left-handed pitcher Anthony Veneziano from his minor league contract, a move made in early January 2026 to allow him to pursue a guaranteed playing opportunity overseas. Veneziano had signed with Texas in mid-December 2025 on a minor league deal that included an invitation to Major League Spring Training, but before camp opened the organization granted his release after he received interest from a professional team in Asia. The decision was not performance-related and is considered a routine, mutually agreed transaction that MLB teams often make when non-roster players have clearer or more secure opportunities outside the United States.
Veneziano, 28, is a left-handed reliever originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 10th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Coastal Carolina University. He made his major league debut with Kansas City in 2023 and has since spent time with the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, frequently moving on and off rosters as a depth bullpen option. During the 2025 season, he logged roughly 25 innings at the major league level with an ERA in the mid-4.00s, showing flashes of effectiveness but also the inconsistency common among fringe relievers shuttling between the majors and Triple-A.
For the Rangers, the release had little impact on their immediate roster plans. Veneziano was never added to the 40-man roster and was brought in primarily to provide left-handed depth and competition during spring training. Rather than retain him in the minor leagues, Texas chose to honor the overseas opportunity, a move that maintains goodwill with players and agents while freeing organizational space for other pitchers competing for bullpen or Triple-A roles.
From Veneziano’s perspective, the move could represent a pivotal point in his career. Overseas leagues such as Japan’s NPB or Korea’s KBO often offer foreign pitchers more consistent innings, higher guaranteed salaries than U.S. minor league deals, and a chance to establish themselves in prominent roles. Strong performance abroad can sometimes lead to renewed MLB interest, while even without a return stateside, it can provide greater career stability than bouncing between organizations.
Overall, the release reflects standard roster management rather than a setback for either side. The Rangers retain flexibility as they shape their pitching staff for the 2026 season, while Veneziano gains the freedom to continue his professional career in a setting that may offer more opportunity and security than a minor league assignment in the United States .
