​MIAMI, FLORIDA — JUNE 22: Jakob Junis #16 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammates during a game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on June 22, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Navarro/Getty Images)
The Texas Rangers made a series of bullpen moves on Friday, highlighted by the return of right-handed relief pitcher Jakob Junis from the injured list. The club announced that Junis has been activated and will rejoin the major league roster, giving manager Bruce Bochy a much-needed dependable late-inning option as the Rangers continue to work through an inconsistent stretch from their relief corps.
In a corresponding move, Texas also recalled right-handed pitcher Jose Corniell from Triple-A Round Rock. To clear space on the active roster for Junis and Corniell, the Rangers optioned right-handed relievers Emiliano Teodo and Gavin Collyer back to Triple-A Round Rock.
The activation of Junis is the most significant part of the roster shuffle for Texas. For much of the season, Junis and left-hander Jacob Latz have been among the few truly reliable arms in the Rangers bullpen. While the relief group has dealt with injuries, uneven performances, and heavy usage, Junis had established himself as one of the team’s most trusted late-game pitchers before landing on the injured list.
With Junis now healthy enough to return, he is expected to slide back into a prominent setup role. Most likely, he will resume handling many of the high-leverage eighth-inning situations, bridging the gap between the starting rotation and the back end of the bullpen. His return should help stabilize a relief unit that has been forced to rely on a rotating cast of arms in recent weeks.
The rest of the moves appear to be more about bullpen management and maintaining fresh pitching options. Teodo was brought up when the Rangers needed an available arm, and Collyer had also been part of the recent bullpen mix. Both pitchers appeared in Thursday’s 15-1 blowout, but neither delivered the kind of outing the Rangers were hoping for. Because both Teodo and Collyer pitched in that lopsided game, they likely would not have been available for meaningful work over the weekend.
That made Corniell a logical choice to come up from Round Rock. The Rangers needed a fresh arm capable of providing length out of the bullpen if necessary, and Corniell gives the team another right-handed option who can absorb innings. In situations where the starting pitcher exits early or the game gets out of hand, having a reliever available for multiple innings is valuable, especially during a busy stretch of the schedule.
For Teodo and Collyer, the move back to Triple-A does not necessarily reflect a long-term decision about their status in the organization. Instead, it is part of the constant roster churn that often happens in a major league bullpen over the course of a long season. Teams regularly option relievers after heavy usage, particularly when those pitchers would be unavailable for the next game or two. The Rangers are prioritizing immediate bullpen flexibility, and Round Rock gives them the ability to rotate arms as needed.
Still, Junis’ return carries more weight than a typical transactional move. Texas has been searching for consistency in the late innings, and getting one of its better relief pitchers back should provide a boost. If Junis can quickly return to the form he showed earlier in the season, the Rangers bullpen becomes considerably more dependable.
As the Rangers continue their series and look to stay competitive in the standings, bullpen depth will remain a major factor. The team has leaned heavily on its pitching staff, and late-inning execution could play a major role in determining how successful Texas is moving forward. Bringing Jakob Junis back from the injured list gives the Rangers a proven option, while recalling Jose Corniell helps ensure the bullpen has enough coverage for the immediate future.