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Frisco RoughRiders Game Program: April 7-12, 2026

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Chad Comer

MANAGER

ComerreturnstoDouble-AFriscoin2026aftermanagingatthe High-A level over the last three seasons. A native of Mansfield, Texas, will enter his 10th season with the Rangers and his secondinFrisco.In2022,ComerhelpedpilottheRiderstotheir second Texas League Championship in franchise history, serving as a development coach. Over the last three seasons, Comer managed High-A Hickory (2023-2024) and High-A Hub City (2025), going 197-191 (.508). The former University of Texas at Arlington catcher played two seasons in the Atlanta Bravesorganization.

Thomas St. Clair

PITCHINGCOACH

St.ClairjoinstheRidersasthepitchingcoachafterleadingaHubCity staff that finished with a 3.50 ERA in 2025. St. Clair enters his fifth season as a Rangers minor league pitching coach and first at the Double-Alevel,whilealsoservingastheassistantpitchingcoordinator in the Rangers farm system in 2026. Initially, St. Clair joined the Rangers as a coach in the Dominican Summer League in 2022. Before pro baseball, he spent two and a half years as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at North Carolina Wesleyan College. The righthander pitched three professional seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals systemfrom2017-19.TheWinston-Salem,NCnativeplayedfouryears at Lenior-RhyneUniversityinHickory,N.C.

Jason Hart

HITTINGCOACH

Hartbeginshis13thseasonwiththeTexasorganizationandhisninthasFrisco’s hitting coach. He served as the Riders' hitting coach from 2012-2019. Most recently, he served as the Major League hitting assistant for the Marlins. In 2015,HartwasnamedtheMikeCoolbaughTexasLeagueCoachoftheYearfor his work with the Riders hitters. His tenure with the Rangers began after he assistedtheSingle-AClintonstaffwithcoachingforpartofthe2008season. Hartplayedprofessionallyfrom1998-2006,withstintsintheOakland,Texas and Minnesota organizations. He made his Major League debut with the Rangers in 2002. He missed the 2004 season following the removal of a benignbraintumor,butreturnedtothefieldin2005andhit21homerunsin128 games with Frisco. He attended Southwest Missouri State University, where hepacedtheconferenceinhomersin1997andwasnamedaMissouriValley ConferenceAll-Starin1998.

Jay Sullenger

DEVELOPMENTCOACH

SullengerserveshisseventhyearintheTexasorganizationasadevelopmentcoachfor Frisco.Hemadehisprofessionalmanagerialdebutin2021,leadingtheACLRangerstoa 31-28 record. Sullenger was slated to coach for Hickory in the 2020 season before the cancellation of the campaign. Before joining the professional ranks, he served as head coach at Biola University in California from 2013-2018. In addition to his work at Biola, Sullengerinvestedinthelocalcommunitythroughbaseballcampsandworkingwiththe FellowshipofChristianAthletessummerballteam.Hebeganhiscoachingcareerin2000 as a volunteer assistant for James Madison University and finished his tenure in 2011 as associateheadcoach.Additionally,heworkedoneseasoninstadiumoperationsforthe TampaBayRays.SullengerplayedbaseballatFloridaSouthernandLiberty.

Jorge Hernandez

BENCHCOACH

Hernandez joins the Riders for his first season with the Rangers organization. During 2020, Hernandez managed the Texas Collegiate League Frisco RoughRiders after the MinorLeagueseasonhadbeencanceled.In2025,heservedasabenchcoachforTriple-A Jacksonville and spent 19 seasons with the Marlins as a coach and coordinator. In that stint, he served eight seasons as a manager, most recently in 2022 with High-A Beloit. Hernandez started his coaching career at the University of Mobile in 1993 as a hitting coach and stayed there through 2001. From there, he coached Texas A&M UniversityCorpusChristifrom2002-2004andtheUniversityofWestFloridain2006.From20052006, Hernandez served as the hitting coach for the Independent Pensacola Pelicans. Hernandez attended Troy State, where he helped them to the 1987 DII World Series Championship

Kiley Brown

ATHLETICTRAINER

Brown makes his Double-A debut, serving in his third season in the Rangers system.BeforebeingtheathletictrainerforHigh-AHubCityin2025,Brownwas the ACL Rangers athletic trainer in 2024. He joined the Texas organization in the 2023-24offseasonaftercompletingastudentathletictrainerinternshipwiththe University of Texas baseball program in 2023. Brown was also a student athletic traineratCarrollUniversityin2021.TheLouisville,Ky.nativeholdsanassociate’s degree in Biology, a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, and a Master’s in Athletic Training. Additionally, he played four years of college baseball as an infielderandpitcherforMcHenryCountyandUpperIowa.

Brett Platts

STRENGTH&CONDITIONING

BREAKCAMP* AS OF 04/01

#1 KEYBER RODRIGUEZ

POSITION:INF|DOB:10/24/2000|HEIGHT:5'10"|WEIGHT:178

HOMETOWN:MARACAY,VENEZUELA

RodriguezentershisninthseasonintheRangersorganizationaftersigninga Minor League contract on July 2, 2017. He first reached Frisco in 2023, batting .242 in 41 games. In 2024, he hit .234/.285/.369/.654 while his 139 defensive assists ranked 10th among Texas League shortstops. Last year, Rodriguez hit .251 in 116 games with Frisco and also earned his first career call-uptoTriple-ARoundRock.TheMaracay,Venezuelanativewonthe2021 TrueRangerAward,giventotheRangersMinorLeaguerwhoexemplifiesthe corevaluesoftheorganizationbothonandoffthefield.

#2 FRAINYER CHAVEZ

POSITION:INF|DOB:5/24/1999|HEIGHT:5'8"|WEIGHT:170

HOMETOWN:VALENCIA,VENEZUELA

Chavez enters 2026 having played parts of four seasons with Frisco, after beingdraftedinthe22ndroundofthe2018MLBDraftoutofMidlandJunior College.TheVenezuelan-borninfielderwenttoLittleElmHighSchool,under 10 miles from Riders Field. In his RoughRiders career, coming into 2026, Chavezisa.251hitterwith12homerunsand86RBIsacross220totalgames. HewasapostseasonherofortheRidersin2022,hittingthego-aheadsingle inthe10thinningoftheTLCS-clinchingwinoverWichita.

#3 THEO HARDY

POSITION:INF|DOB:11/27/2001|HEIGHT:6'1"|WEIGHT:185

HOMETOWN:BERKELEY,CA

Signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Rangers in 2023, Hardy plays his third season with the RoughRiders in 2026 after five games in 2024 and 14 last year. The Berkeley, California native was a standout infielder over four seasons with the San Jose State Spartans, including being named 1st Team All-MWC in 2023. That season, he hit .329/.426/.449/.875 while starting in all58games.Intheminors,hehasplayedatHigh-A’sHickoryandHubCity, FriscoandTriple-ARoundRock,with35hitsin74careergames

#4 JULIAN BROCK

POSITION:C|DOB:6/3/2001|HEIGHT:6'3"|WEIGHT:220

HOMETOWN:HOUSTON,TX

The Rangers selected Brock in the eighth round of the 2023 draft. Before earning a call-up to Frisco on August 5, 2025, the former University of Louisiana-Lafayette standout racked up 503.0 innings behind the dish for High-A Hub City. Defensively, Brock caught 61 runners stealing while also adding24RBIs,12doublesand10stolenbasesonoffenseacross62games for the Spartanburgers. While with the RoughRiders, the catcher hit .321 across17gameswithan.846OPSand10RBIs.

#5 MARCUS LEE SANG

POSITION:OF|DOB:1/2/2001|HEIGHT:5'11"|WEIGHT:200

HOMETOWN:LAUREL,MD

2026markstheseventhseasoninMinorLeagueBaseballforLeeSang,who joinedTexasonaMiLBfreeagentcontractovertheoffseason.Between2019 and2025inthePhilliesorganization,theMarylandnativehit.249witha.727 career OPS across every level of Minor League Baseball. Lee Sang only played in four games with Double-A Reading last year, but hit .239 with 13 HR and 47 RBI in 103 games back in 2024. He also made his first career appearance in Triple-A with Lehigh Valley. Lee Sang was an 11th-round pick byPhiladelphiain2019outofNorthernHighSchoolinOwings,MD.

#6 JAKE SNIDER

POSITION:OF|DOB:5/19/1998|HEIGHT:5'10"|WEIGHT:190

HOMETOWN:WATERLOO,IA

An original 20th-round pick in 2019 by Pittsburgh out of the University of Louisville,SnideragreedtoaMinorLeaguefreeagentdealwiththeRangers in January. Texas is the outfielder’s fourth organization since breaking into proball.Afterspending2023and2024inColorado’ssystem,Sniderplayed inHigh-AandDouble-AlastyearforthePadresorganization.InsevenTexas LeaguegameswiththeSanAntonioMissionslastseason,Sniderwent6-for18attheplate,drewthreewalksandstolethreebases,makinghisDouble-A debut.

#8 DYLAN DREILING

POSITION:OF|DOB:4/17/2003|HEIGHT:5'10"|WEIGHT:197

HOMETOWN:HAYS,KA

DreilingwasdraftedbyTexasinthesecondroundin2024offthebackofa national championship with the University of Tennessee, where he was the College World Series Most Outstanding Player. Dreiling makes his Double-A debut in 2026 after clubbing 21 doubles and 12 home runs for High-A Hub Citylastseason.Entering2026,in134careerMinorLeaguegames,Dreilingis slashing.221/.323/.364/.686andhasstolen20bases.

#11 KEITH JONES II

POSITION:OF|DOB:4/29/2002|HEIGHT:6'2"|WEIGHT:220

HOMETOWN:BRENTWOOD,CA

The 23-year-old was assigned to Frisco on July 1 last season and made an immediate impact, homering in his Double-A debut versus the Arkansas Travelers. He’d finish with three long balls and a .244 average in 52 Frisco games. With High-A Hub City in 2025, Jones ranked fifth in the South Atlantic League in OBP (.406) and seventh in OPS (.857), securing June Player of the Month honors. In total, Jones slashed .259/.377/.421/.798 betweenthetwolevels.TheRangerstookhimintheninthroundin2024out ofNewMexicoState,afterstartinghiscollegecareeratWashingtonState.

#12 TUCKER MITCHELL

POSITION:C|DOB:2/10/2001|HEIGHT:6'1"|WEIGHT:210

HOMETOWN:IRVING,TEXAS

The 25-year-old backstop was a 14th-round pick by Texas in the 2021 MLB Draft after one year at Florida Atlantic and one year at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Before college, Mitchell played high school baseball at the prestigious IMG Academy. In 2025, he played 53 games for theRoughRidersandhit.218behindtheplatebeforegettinghisfirstcareer call-up to Triple-A Round Rock. With the Express, he made 20 plate appearancesineightgamestofinishtheseason.

#13 ORLANDO MARTINEZ

POSITION:OF|DOB:2/17/1998|HEIGHT:5'11"|WEIGHT:185

HOMETOWN:HAVANA,CUBA

A Minor Leaguer since 2018, Martinez makes his first appearance in the Rangersorganizationthisseason.TheRoughRiderssawtheCubanoutfielder across the Texas League in 2025, as he spent 60 games with the Corpus Christi Hooks in the Astros system. With Corpus Christi, Martinez hit .270 with a .724 OPS and knocked in 25. He also logged 54 games in the independent,unaffiliatedMexicanLeagueandclubbed16homerunsforthe RielerosdeAguascalientes.The28-year-old’scareerstartedwithsixseasons intheAngelssystem,reachingashighasDouble-ARocketCity.

#14 WINSTON SANTOS

POSITION:RHP|DOB:4/15/2002|HEIGHT:6'0"|WEIGHT:160 HOMETOWN:SANTODOMINGO,D.R.

SantossignedasaNon-DraftedFreeAgenton7/2/2019.Afterstarting2024 witha2.80ERAin12startsatHigh-AHickory,hewasselectedtotheAll-Star Futures Game at Globe Life Field. The next day, he joined Frisco, going 5-3 with a 4.89 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 10 starts. The Payita, Dominican Republicnativedazzledwitha12-strikeoutoutinginGameTwooftheTexas LeagueDivisionSeriesversusMidland.Santosonlythrewsixgamesin2025 duetoabackinjury,butmadehisTriple-AdebutinRoundRock

#15 AUSTIN BERGNER

POSITION:RHP|DOB:5/1/1997|HEIGHT:6'5"|WEIGHT:210

HOMETOWN:BOCARATON,FL

AnoffseasonMinorLeaguefreeagentsigningbyTexas,BergnerjoinsFrisco by way of the Tigers organization. The right-hander recently spent four seasons splitting time between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. He finishedhistimewithErieastheSeawolves’careerstrikeoutsrecordholder with 309. The Florida native owns a 2.96 career ERA in 82 Double-A games and has six seasons of Minor League Baseball under his belt. Most recently, BergnerpitchedforTeamColombiainthe2026WorldBaseballClassicwith threeinningspitchedintwototalappearances.

#16 JOHN TAYLOR

POSITION:INF|DOB:4/26/2001|HEIGHT:5'11"|WEIGHT:200

HOMETOWN:BEND,OR

A former Ragin’ Cajun from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Taylor takes his talents to Frisco in his second season of Minor League Baseball. Afterpostinga.932OPSwitheighthomerunsin52gamesfortheSouthern MarylandBlueCrabsintheindependentAtlanticLeague,Taylorsignedwith TexasandjoinedHigh-AHubCityinJuneof2025.WiththeSpartanburgers, Taylorhit.256in58gameswith20runsdrivenin.Johnandhisbrother,Will, run the social media brand, the Baseball Bat Bros, which reviews different baseballbats.TheyhaveoveronemillionsubscribersonYouTubeandovera millionfollowersonInstagram.

#17 LEANDRO LOPEZ

POSITION:RHP|DOB:6/17/2002|HEIGHT:6'1"|WEIGHT:200 HOMETOWN:BONAO,D.R.

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The 23-year-old was assigned to Frisco from High-A Hub City on July 20 lastseason.WiththeSpartanburgers,heposteda2.19ERA,a.199opposing averageand74strikeoutsacross14starts.InhisfinalfivestartsinHigh-A,he notched a 1.93 ERA, eighth-best in the South Atlantic League. Lopez didn’t lookbackuponarrivalinFrisco,twirlinga2.78ERAacross35.2inningswith 43strikeouts.OfhisnineRoughRidersappearances,eightwerestarts.

#18 JACK BLOMGREN

POSITION:INF|DOB:9/27/1998|HEIGHT:5'11"|WEIGHT:180

HOMETOWN:MILTON,WIS.

Blomgren was drafted by the Rockies in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft and signed with Texas over the offseason following his release by Colorado.TheformerMichiganWolverinehasplayed165careerMiLBgames across five seasons, reaching as high as Double-A Hartford. The Wisconsin native spent a brief stint in the Astros organization last year, playing 19 games between rookie ball and High-A Asheville. In 25 career games at the Double-Alevel,theinfielderhasliftedfourhomerunsandownsan.855OPS.

#19 RYAN LOBUS

POSITION:RHP|DOB:9/8/2000|HEIGHT:6'2"|WEIGHT:180

HOMETOWN:WOODSTOCK,GA

LobussignedwithTexasasaNon-DraftedFreeAgentonJuly18,2023after threeseasonsatMercerUniversityandoneatChattanoogaStateCommunity College, where he started as a position player. In his first Minor League season, Lobus stood out in 27 appearances, including 12 starts, between Low-A Down East, High-A Hickory and Frisco. The Marietta, Georgia native posted a 2.96 ERA and 134 strikeouts while his 35.8% strikeout rate ranked second in MiLB (min. 90 IP). Last year, Lobus led the Riders with 45 appearancesandhada3.48ERAwith82strikeoutsin67.1inningspitched.

#20 DAVID DAVALILLO

POSITION:RHP|DOB:9/21/2002|HEIGHT:61"|WEIGHT:175

HOMETOWN:OCUMAREDELTUY,VENEZUELA

The 23-year-old right-hander returns to Frisco after dominating with High-A Hub City last year and making the midseason jump. At the time of his promotion, Davalillo ranked fourth in Minor League Baseball in WHIP (0.82) and led the SAL in ERA (2.12). Between Low-A Down East and High-A Hickoryin2024,DavalilloledMiLBwitha1.88ERA,thelowestbyaRangers farmhand since former Rider Joe Wieland in 2011. In his first Double-A stint lastseason,Davalillostayedredhotandstormedtoa2.73ERAin11starts.

#22 WILIAN BORMIE

POSITION:RHP|DOB:4/7/2001|HEIGHT:6'3"|WEIGHT:175

HOMETOWN:BARAHONA,D.R.

Bormie signed a minor league contract with the Rangers in December of 2019andbeganplayingintheRangersorganizationinAugustof2022.After postinga3.86ERAwithHigh-AHubCityin2025,hewaspromotedtoFrisco onAugust5,2025.Across33reliefappearancesfortheSpartanburgers,the right-hander struck out 76 batters across 52 innings of work while walking just29.Bormieproceededtoposta2.31ERAinhis12appearanceswiththe RoughRidersandtallied14strikeouts.

#23 JOSH TRENTADUE

POSITION:LHP|DOB:1/25/2002|HEIGHT:6'2"|WEIGHT:185

HOMETOWN:RICHMOND,VA.

The 2024 Rangers 14th-round pick out of the College of Southern Idaho started last season with High-A Hub City and stymied the South Atlantic League.In15appearancesandninestarts,theRichmond,VAnativeallowed justsevenearnedrunsin54.2innings.AmongpitchersintheSALwhothrew at least 50 innings, he led the league in ERA (1.15) and batting average against (.147). From there, the left-hander made seven starts to finish the season with the RoughRiders. Across both levels, Trentadue’s 2025 worked outtoa2.34ERAin77.0IPwith94totalstrikeouts.

#24 IAN MOLLER

POSITION:C|DOB:10/26/2002|HEIGHT:6'0"|WEIGHT:190

HOMETOWN:DUBUQUE,IOWA

Moller was a fourth-round pick by the Rangers in 2021 out of Wahlert High School,forgoingacommitmenttoLSU.After15gameswithACLRangersin 2021,Mollerplayed155gamesoverthenexttwoseasonswithLow-ADown East.HeflasheddefensivelywithHigh-AHickoryin2024,rankingthirdinthe South Atlantic League with a .989 fielding percentage and tied for seventh with 22 runners caught stealing. In 2025, Moller made his first Frisco appearance,logging77gamesandover600inningsbehindtheplateforthe RoughRiders.

#25 RICARDO VELEZ

POSITION:RHP|DOB:8/21/1998|HEIGHT:6'1"|WEIGHT:180

HOMETOWN:LAJAS,PUERTORICO

VelezhasenjoyedalongcareerinboththeMinorLeaguesandInternational baseball. He owns a career 21-8 record and 2.95 ERA across five MiLB seasons between the Twins and Cardinals organizations. Last year, Velez pitchedfortheSpringfieldCardinalsintheTexasLeaguewitha1.99ERAand 53K’sin30gamesfortheeventualchampions.Therightyhasalsotossed151 combined innings in the Puerto Rican Winter League and Carribean Series witha2.21mark.Mostrecently,VelezsuitedupforTeamPuertoRicointhe 2026WorldBaseballClassicanddidnotallowarunintwooutings.

#27 AUSTIN ROBERTS

POSITION:RHP|DOB:7/27/1998|HEIGHT:6'0"|WEIGHT:215

HOMETOWN:WESTSACRAMENTO,CA.

Now in his seventh season as a Minor League reliever, Roberts will pitch in the Rangers organization for the first time. The righty split time between Double-A and Triple-A last year, playing both for Miami and Milwaukee’s affiliates. The former eighth-round pick appeared at the Triple-A level as early as 2021, his first season in MiLB. He spent the bulk of his season last year with Triple-A Jacksonville and posted a 5.19 ERA across 34.2 innings before time with two Southern League Double-A teams: Pensacola and Biloxi.

#28 DYLAN MACLEAN

POSITION:LHP|DOB:7/12/2002|HEIGHT:6'4"|WEIGHT:190

HOMETOWN:PORTLAND,OR

MacLean, Texas’ fourth-round draft selection in 2020, makes his Double-A debut with Frisco in 2026. The Central Catholic High School product spent 2022and2023withLow-ADownEastbeforestarringlastseasonwithHighA Hub City. The left-hander twirled a 3.34 ERA across 72.2 innings for the Spartanburgers in 2025. He surrendered just 53 hits and 15 walks for a 0.94 WHIPandadded65strikeouts.InHubCity’spostseasonrun,MacLeanmade twostartsandallowedthreeearnedrunsineighttotalinnings.

#30 JANSER LARA

POSITION:RHP|DOB:8/10/1996|HEIGHT:6'0"|WEIGHT:170

HOMETOWN:SANCRISTOBAL,D.R

The 28-year-old made his return to Minor League Baseball last year for the firsttimesince2018.In2015,Larasignedat19yearsoldwiththeKansasCity Royals. The right-hander pitched in the Royals organization from 2016-18, reaching as high as Class-A Lexington. Lara was assigned to Frisco on April 17 and pitched two shutout innings on April 18th. His Double-A debut markedhisfirstMiLBgamesinceAug.31,2018.Byseason’send,Laramade 13appearancesandstruckouteighthittersover9.2innings.

#40 BRYAN MAGDALENO

POSITION:LHP|DOB:2/22/2001|HEIGHT:6'1"|WEIGHT:202

HOMETOWN:SANTODOMINGO,D.R.

Magdalenowasnamedthe2024RangersMinorLeagueRelieveroftheYear after a dominant season between Low-A Down East, High-A Hickory and Frisco. The southpaw yielded just six earned runs all year, while his .134 batting average against was tied for second among MiLB pitchers (min. 40 innings). From July 3rd to Sept. 7th, he pitched 19 consecutive innings withoutallowingahitbetweenthethreelevels.Magdalenohada6.31ERAin his first full season with Frisco last year across 36 appearances. The Santo Domingo,DRnativehasnowpitchedfiveyearsintheRangersorganization.

#46 ZACH BRYANT

POSITION:RHP|DOB:6/5/1998|HEIGHT:6'1"|WEIGHT:210 HOMETOWN:DAYTONABEACH,FL

Bryant joined Texas over the offseason after spending time in the Red Sox organization.TheFloridanativestartedhiscareerasa15th-rounddraftpick bytheCubsin2019andjoinedBoston’sHigh-Aaffiliate,Greenville,in2021. Since 2022, the righty has spent all of his time with Double-A Portland and ownsa6.26ERAacross79appearancesatthelevel.

#52 JONATHAN BRAND

POSITION:RHP|DOB:2/20/2000|HEIGHT:5'9"|WEIGHT:200 HOMETOWN:COLUMBUS,GA

BrandentershisfifthseasonofMinorLeagueBaseballin2026andhisfirstas amemberoftheRangersorganization.Therightybringshiscareer3.17ERA to Frisco after pitching across all four levels in Boston’s system. Brand, a formereighth-rounderoutofMiamiUniversityofOhio,hada3.48ERAwith Double-APortlandlastseasonafterpostinga0.89markinHigh-AGreenville and making one appearance with Triple-A Worcester. Texas selected the GeorgianintheMinorLeaguephaseofMLB’sRule5Draft.

#54 BLAKE TOWNSEND

POSITION:LHP|DOB:4/5/2001|HEIGHT:6'4"|WEIGHT:245

HOMETOWN:TRARALGON,VIC,AUSTRALIA

Theleft-handedTownsendsignedwithTexasasaMinorLeaguefreeagentin January.AfterfourseasonsintheMarinerssystem,hislasttwoyearscameas amemberofthePittsburghPiratesorganization.Lastseason,Townsendhad a 2.05 ERA in 66 innings with Double-A Altoona and earned the chance to pitch in Triple-A for the first time with the Indianapolis Indians, working a scoreless 2.1 IP outing. A native Australian, Townsend is a two-time participantintheWorldBaseballClassicwithTeamAustralia.Between2023 and2026,hedidn’tallowahitorarunacrossthreeWBCappearances.

#67 ERIC LOOMIS

POSITION:RHP|DOB:3/27/2002|HEIGHT:6'0"|WEIGHT:195 HOMETOWN:BRENTWOOD,MO

TheRangersselectedLoomisinthe16throundofthe2024Draft.TherighthandedpitcherstartedlastseasoninLow-Aandfinishedtheyeartwolevels higher with a seven-game stint in Frisco, ending his season as the Rangers Minor League Reliever of the Year. Loomis had a 2.89 ERA across seven appearances with Low-A Hickory and leveled up with a 1.80 mark and an astronomical 55 strikeouts in 35 innings with High-A Hub City. From there, the23-year-oldstruckout15TexasLeaguersin7.2inningsofwork.

ALL AROUND THE TEXAS LEAGUE

FEATURE STORY

frisco feels familiar to comer

Chad Comer’s path into coaching began, not with a fungo, but with a rake in hand.

Now the RoughRiders manager, the Mansfield, Texas native was a star for the UT Arlington Mavericks during his playing days and had just finished a twoyear stint in the minors as a catcher within the Braves system. While it was clear he was done putting down signs behind the plate, he knew he had more to give to the game.

“I finished playing two years with the Braves in the minor leagues and when I was done, I was like I want to coach,” Comer said. “It’s in me. A lot of people have told me along the way that coaching is going to be in your future. That kind of led me to believe to that the big leagues wasn’t going to be in my future, I am going to be a better coach.”

A smile crossed his face after he said that, knowing what was to come.

College coaching seemed like the best path, so he reached out to his old coach, Darin Thomas, at UT Arlington.

“[Thomas] said we don’t have anything open right now, but when something does, the spot is yours,” Comer said. “Volunteer or whatever it might be, it’s yours.”

The position that eventually came available was paid, but it wasn’t a spot on the coaching staff. Instead, he was hired to work on the grounds crew atUTA.

Comer said that Thomas told him, “You could start workingonthegroundscrewandwe’llhaveyouout at practice, working with the catchers and different things like that. Kind of get going with it because you’ve got great knowledge, and I think you could beagoodassettohavearound.”

As it turns out, the grounds crew gig did not last long, as the pitching coach for the Mavericks approached Comer with an opportunity. One of his connections with the Rangers had reached out and asked if he knew of a young guy with a catching background who was looking to get into coaching. Comercheckedalloftheboxes.

After getting the Rangers job, he was whisked off to the Low-A level for a season, before three years in theDominicanRepublic,coachingfortheDominican Summer League Rangers. That included his first season as a manager in 2017, guiding the DSL Rangers 1 to a 42-28 record. That team featured future RoughRiders and Rangers pitcher Yerry Rodriguez.

friscofeelsfamiliartocomer

In 2021, Comer served as the hitting coach for HighA Hickory before helping pilot the RoughRiders to a Texas League Championship in 2022 as a Development Coach. While he had many lasting memoriesfromthatseason,onestoodout.

“Gettingtoseetheplayerscelebrateattheendofit, those are always special moments,” Comer said. “It’s such a tough thing to go out and win a championship, but when you get there, you never knowifyoumightbebackthereornot.Couldbethe next year, could be five or 10 years after or it might not ever be again. So, seeing how special that moment was with that group. Even walking down [into the RoughRiders clubhouse] again and seeing the picture on the wall, it brings back so many memories.“

From 2023 through 2025, Comer took the helm for the Rangers High-A affiliates, managing Hickory for two seasons before skippering the new affiliate Hub City in 2025. In those three years, Comer grew immensely,learninghowtoworkwithinthestaffasa manager.

“A lot of [the job] is to have constant empathy for the players,” Comer said. “It’s not an easy game to play. In High-A, at one point, we lost 14 in a row and then we rattled off 17 [wins] in a row, so it changes so fast. Remembering how difficult this game is and continuing to show up every day and pour into the players, not only on the field, but off the field as well.”

friscofeelsfamiliartocomer

The role of a baseball manager is in the title. Sometimes, it can be more about managing people than managing the game itself. Comer’s unique path and his resume have helped him connect with anyone whoworksonhisstaff.

“I’ve been a development coach, I’ve been a hitting coach, I’ve been a bench coach. I’ve had all those opportunities to wear some different hats,” Comer said. “So, to that side as well, knowing what staff might be going through and all those types of things, I think it’s helped prepare me for this opportunity. Even with that, I still learn every single day. There’s so many things that I could continue to pick up on and learn from players and from staff every single day. I don’t think we’re ever done learning in this game. The more you continue to stay open to that, I think, is huge.”

Now, his sights are set towards 2026. It figures to be an experienced group that Comer pilots in Frisco, but no matter what, he looks forward to the challenge. Not to mention, because of his time in High-A over the last three years, many of the faces who will come through the RoughRiders clubhouse will be very familiartohim.

“At the end of the day, living out our core values, dominatingthefundamentals,competingwithpassion and being a great teammate,” Comer said. “If we can live those out each and every day and put that type of baseball out on the field, I think it’s going to be veryspecial.”

friscofeelsfamiliartocomer

On and off the field, Comer certainly understands what the position entails, including in the community which he has called home for almost his entire life. A Texas man through-and-through, he knowshisroleperfectly.

“The interaction that we have in the community with fans is important, to make this a special place for baseball to be played,” Comer said. “There are so manyfamiliesthatcomeouthereandso,justhaving the opportunity to create a good atmosphere, to come out and not only watch really good baseball, but enjoy a baseball game is something that will be really special. Frisco has it. You guys have always hadit.”

And,ofcourse,alwaysthebaseballman,hehadone morethingtoadd:

“So, just to continue to carry that on and, ultimately, at the end of the day win a championship. You can’t bemadaboutthat.”

THEOHARDY

CAM CAULEY WALKOFF IN FINAL GAME OF 2025 SEASON

RYANLOBUS

CAMCAULEY

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Frisco RoughRiders Game Program: April 7-12, 2026 by Frisco RoughRiders - Issuu