ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers announced today that infielder Derek Dietrich has been signed to a minor league contract and assigned to the Alternate Training Site.
Dietrich, 31, was released by the Chicago Cubs on August 8 after signing with the club and joining its Alternate Training Site on July 23. He spent the bulk of the year in the Cincinnati organization, but saw limited action in Summer Camp before he was released by the Reds on July 20 near the start of the regular season. He did not play with the Reds in any exhibition contests, but appeared in 10 games with Cincinnati prior to the shutdown in March.
The left-handed batter has hit .246 with 79 home runs and 247 RBI over 721 career Major League games with Miami (2013-2018) and Cincinnati (2019). He hit a career-high 19 home runs in 113 games for the Reds last season. Dietrich has appeared primarily at second base in the Majors while also seeing time at first base, third base, and left field.
The Ohio native attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, the same school that produced Texas right-hander Luke Farrell. Dietrich was originally drafted by Tampa Bay in the 2nd round of the 2010 June draft out of Georgia Tech, and was traded to Miami in 2012.
From Rangers PR staff reports