LHP Neal Cotts, INF Kyle Kubitza to Join Express

Former E-Train Pitcher Expected to Reunite with Round Rock Tuesday

By Andrew Felts

June 21, 2016

ROUND ROCK, Texas - A familiar face is returning to Round Rock. The Texas Rangers have signed LHP Neal Cotts to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock Express, the club announced. The left-hander is expected to join the team on Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Additionally, the Rangers have acquired INF Kyle Kubitza from the Los Angeles Angels organization.

Cotts, 36, spent parts of the 2012 and 2013 seasons with the Express, posting a 5-2 record with a 2.96 ERA (18er/54.2ip) in 40 total relief appearances. He walked 20 batters and struck out 83 over that span. The southpaw spent most of the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Texas Rangers, before splitting time with Milwaukee and Minnesota in 2015. He has no record and a 3.86 ERA (9er/21.0ip) in 21 relief appearances with Salt Lake (Los Angeles Angels Triple-A affiliate) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (New York Yankees Triple-A affiliate) in 2016.

Originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Cotts has spent time with nine organizations including Chicago (AL), Chicago (NL), Houston, Los Angeles (AL), Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York and Texas. He hass compiled a 21-24 record in the major leagues with a 3.96 ERA (195er/443.1ip).

After graduating from Texas State University, Kubitza was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. The 25-year-old spent four seasons in the Braves farm system before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels in January 2015.

Kubitza opened the 2015 season with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, posting a .271 batting average with seven homers and 50 RBI before being promoted to the Angels in mid-June. In four stints with Los Angeles, the Arlington, Texas native finished with a .194 batting average across 19 games. Kubitza opened the 2016 season in Salt Lake, posting a .253 batting average, including two home runs and 19 RBI in 54 games before being designated for assignment on June 13.

Round Rock continues their nine-game, eight-day road trip tonight in Oklahoma City with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch against the Dodgers. The Express will return home to Dell Diamond on Saturday, June 25.

For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!