In December, the right-handed pitcher joined the St. Louis Cardinals after being designated for assignment by the Cleveland Guardians. However, his time in St. Louis was brief. On Friday, the Texas Rangers claimed his signing off waivers, according to the team’s public relations department.
With the move, Texas’ 40-man roster is now full. Kent appeared in 12 games last season, posting a 1–0 record with 16 strikeouts and a 4.58 ERA. Prior to reaching the majors, he spent six years in the minor leagues, compiling a 13–16 record, a 4.38 ERA, and 369 strikeouts overall.
Now 27, Kent hails from Henrico, Virginia, and attended Northumberland High School in Heathsville. He played a key role in leading the school to a Class 1A state championship in 2014, finishing that season with a 1.96 ERA while also hitting .315. Kent later pitched three seasons at the Virginia Military Institute.
The Rangers originally selected Kent in the ninth round of the 2019 MLB Draft, 265th overall. His first major league victory came against Texas on September 28 while he was pitching for Cleveland.
The Cardinals concluded the 2025 season with a 78–84 record and missed the postseason, while the Rangers finished at .500 (81–81) and also fell short of the playoffs. This offseason, St. Louis has been focused on strengthening its pitching depth through trades, free-agent signings, and internal development. In mid-December, the Cardinals added left-hander Dustin May, who previously pitched for the Red Sox and Dodgers.
Meanwhile, young pitcher Matthew Liberatore has voiced confidence in his ability to earn the Opening Day starting role.
Kent features a three-pitch arsenal that includes a slider, curveball, and a cutter–fastball mix.
