The Guardians acquired Kent from the Rangers on Thursday in exchange for international bonus pool money and optioned him to Triple-A Columbus.
Kent was one of two pitchers Cleveland traded for in advance of Opening Day, with Peter Strzelecki also coming aboard in a deal with Arizona. Though both new arrivals will claim spots on the 40-man roster, neither will join the team for Thursday's season opener in Oakland and will instead be ticketed for Columbus. The 26-year-old Kent, who has yet to make his MLB debut, posted a 3.97 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 34:10 K:BB in 10 starts at Triple-A Round Rock in 2023, but it's unclear whether or not the Guardians intend to keep him on a starter's development track or move him to the bullpen.
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Rangers' Zak Kent: Cut from major-league camp
Rotowire
Kent was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock by the Rangers on Thursday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Kent was never a real candidate to break camp with the team, anyway, but he didn't help himself in posting a 12.27 ERA in three Cactus League appearances. The 26-year-old will open 2024 in Round Rock's rotation and hope to debut at some point this year with the Rangers.
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Rangers' Zak Kent: Activated at Triple-A
Rotowire
Kent (oblique) struck out three and allowed one hit and no walks over three scoreless innings Saturday for Triple-A Round Rock after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list earlier in the day.
Kent was sharp in his return to the Round Rock rotation after he hadn't pitched in the Pacific Coast League since April 4 due to an oblique strain. Prior to being activated, the 25-year-old right-hander made three tune-up starts in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
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Rangers' Zak Kent: Gearing up for return
Rotowire
Kent (oblique) made a rehab start Saturday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, giving up no hits and one walk over two scoreless innings while striking out four.
After tossing three scoreless innings in his season debut for Triple-A Round Rock on April 4, Kent was shut down for more than three months with what was apparently a significant oblique strain. The 25-year-old right-hander is now in the process of getting stretched back out again, and he may only need one or two more starts in the lower levels of the minors before setting back into the Round Rock rotation.
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Rangers' Zak Kent: Out with oblique strain
Rotowire
Kent is on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Round Rock with a strained oblique, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The 6-foot-3 righty struck out three in three scoreless innings during his first start of the year for the Express on April 4 but has not pitched since. Kent boasts an excellent fastball/slider combination, but he is still working on developing starter-caliber command and secondaries beyond his breaking ball. He has six career starts at Triple-A under his belt and is on the 40-man roster, so we could see Kent pitching in the majors in some capacity later this season.
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Rangers' Zak Kent: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
Kent was added to the Rangers' 40-man roster Tuesday.
Kent has a hammer curveball that plays as a plus pitch when he is locating his low-to-mid-90s fastball. Considering he will turn 25 in February and has made just five starts at Triple-A, the clock is ticking on Kent to make it as a starting pitcher. However, he could have a nice fall-back plan as a setup man if he is moved to relief.
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Rangers' Zak Kent: Promoted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Kent was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Kent returned to action at Double-A Frisco in early July and has posted a 2.82 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 38.1 innings over nine starts since then. The right-hander will be rewarded with a promotion to the Triple-A club for the final month of the regular season.
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Rangers' Zak Kent: Returns to Double-A rotation
Rotowire
Kent (undisclosed) has struck out three while scattering two hits and no walks over four scoreless innings in his two appearances for Double-A Frisco since being activated from the 7-day injured list July 3.
Kent was on the shelf for about two and a half weeks with the undisclosed injury. Since the Rangers didn't send him to a lower-level affiliate for a rehab assignment prior to activating him, Kent has been getting stretched out on the fly during his starts with Frisco. He should need only one or two more outings before he's free of any major pitch-count restrictions in his starts.
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Rangers' Zak Kent: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
Kent was placed on the the 7-day injured list at Double-A Frisco with an undisclosed injury.
Kent missed a week earlier in April with a hamstring injury. He has an ugly 6.29 ERA but 45 strikeouts in 44.1 innings at Double-A.
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Rangers' Zak Kent: Returns from hamstring injury
Rotowire
Kent (hamstring) was activated from the 7-day IL before Tuesday's game for Double-A Frisco and immediately returned to the rotation. He gave up three runs with three strikeouts and one walk over 2.2 innings.
Kent has given up six runs in 6.2 innings in two starts for Frisco. He missed one start with a hamstring injury.
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Rangers' Zak Kent: On IL with hamstring injury
Rotowire
Kent was placed on the 7-day IL at Double-A Frisco with a hamstring injury, the Dallas Morning News reports.
He's expected to just miss one start. He gave up three runs over four innings in his first start for Frisco. The 2019 ninth-round draft pick had an impressive 117 strikeouts in 89 innings last season between Double-A and High-A with a combined 3.64 ERA.
