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Texas Rangers Caravan Returns to Dell Diamond on January 19 

Tickets Available Now for Meet and Greet with Nathan Eovaldi, Mark Mathias and Josh Smith
January 9, 2023

ROUND ROCK, Texas – Save the date! The Texas Rangers Caravan is returning to Dell Diamond on Thursday, January 19, presented by Cody Pools. The caravan will include newest Texas Rangers signee, RHP Nathan Eovaldi, along with former Round Rock Express players, INF Josh Smith and INF Mark Mathias. Rangers

ROUND ROCK, Texas – Save the date! The Texas Rangers Caravan is returning to Dell Diamond on Thursday, January 19, presented by Cody Pools. The caravan will include newest Texas Rangers signee, RHP Nathan Eovaldi, along with former Round Rock Express players, INF Josh Smith and INF Mark Mathias. Rangers Radio Broadcaster, Matt Hicks, will emcee the event.

Express fans are invited to the meet and greet from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the United Heritage Center. A limited number of tickets are available and cost $20 (plus applicable taxes and fees). Tickets can be purchased at RRExpress.com. Each ticket includes access to the cocktail-style reception including appetizers, water and tea. Following a short program from 5:30-6:00, there will be an autograph session for all ticketed attendees. Please note, fans will have a one autograph limit and representatives of the Rangers are subject to change. No customizations/personalized autographs and/or posed photographs are permitted. Parking is free for this event.

Eovaldi signed a two-year, $34 million contract with Texas on December 28. The right-hander will enter his 12th professional season in 2023 and has pitched in 240 games with a 4.16 ERA (581 ER/1257.2 IP). Eovaldi held a 3.87 ERA (21 ER/109.1 IP) with 103 strikeouts and only 20 walks in 20 starts during the 2023 season. In 2021, Eovaldi finished fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting while earning his first All-Star Game selection. He posted a 3.75 ERA (76 ER/182.1 IP) with 195 strikeouts and 35 walks over 32 starts. In 2018, Eovaldi played a pivotal role to help the Red Sox win the World Series. In 43.0 innings, the right-hander held a 0.98 WHIP, the third-lowest WHIP in Red Sox team history behind only RHP Jonathan Papelbon (0.81 WHIP) and LHP Babe Ruth (0.94 WHIP).

Mathias appeared in eight games for the Express in 2022 after he was traded to Texas, from the Milwaukee Brewers, on August 2. He was recalled to the Rangers on August 16 and finished the season with the big-league club while appearing in 30 games and batting .277 (18-65) with three doubles, six home runs and 20 RBI. His six home runs were a career high. One of those home runs came in walk-off fashion on September 13 against the Oakland Athletics. His solo homer helped the Rangers climb back from a 7-2 deficit.

Smith returns to Dell Diamond after playing in 55 games for the E-Train in 2022. He made his Major League debut for the Rangers on May 30 against the Tampa Bay Rays and went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Smith appeared in 72 games for Texas last year and hit five doubles, two home runs and 16 RBI. While a member of the Express, he batted .290 (64-221) with 13 doubles, four triples, six home runs, 45 RBI and 45 runs scored.

The Express kick off the 2023 season on Friday, March 31 against the Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado Rockies affiliate) at 7:05 p.m. at Dell Diamond. Season memberships and flex plan ticket packages are on sale now. For more information about the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Subscribe to the E-Train email newsletter and keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

The Round Rock Express Baseball Club, owned and operated by Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment, is the proud Triple-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers and a member of the Pacific Coast League. To manage your Express Communications Department email preferences, please click here