Lehigh University Athletics
Photo by: Zach Del Bello
Perich Named Texas Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
9/15/2026 12:29:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Texas Rangers organization announced its minor league award winners following the 2026 campaign. Former Lehigh standout Rafe Perich was named the Tom Grieve Player of the Year.
Perich, 24, slashed .315/.401/.586/.987 (140-444) across 116 games between High-A Hub City and Double-A Frisco, belting an organization-high 27 home runs with 4 triples, 31 doubles, and 92 RBI. The switch-hitting corner infielder led Texas minor leaguers in average, slugging, and OPS (min. 350 plate appearances). His 62 extra-base hits were the most by a Rangers farmhand since Curtis Terry in 2019 (63). Perich was named South Atlantic League Player of the Month in May with Hub City and was promoted on May 29 to Frisco, where he tallied a Texas League-high 27 doubles the rest of the year. The Allentown, Penn. product capped 2026 by batting .358 (29-81) in August and .400 (14-35) in September, registering a season-high-tying 5 RBI in his final regular season game last Friday at Wichita. Currently the club's 19th-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, Perich has totaled 33 home runs and 147 RBI in 221 career games since being selected in the 7th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
The honorees will be presented with their awards at Globe Life Field in a ceremony prior to the Rangers game on Saturday, September 19 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
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Texas Rangers Minor League Award Winners
Tom Grieve Player of the Year – INF Rafe Perich
Nolan Ryan Pitcher of the Year – LHP Dalton Pence
Reliever of the Year – LHP Louis Marinaro
Defender of the Year – INF Yolfran Castillo
True Ranger Award – RHP Evan Siary
Perich, 24, slashed .315/.401/.586/.987 (140-444) across 116 games between High-A Hub City and Double-A Frisco, belting an organization-high 27 home runs with 4 triples, 31 doubles, and 92 RBI. The switch-hitting corner infielder led Texas minor leaguers in average, slugging, and OPS (min. 350 plate appearances). His 62 extra-base hits were the most by a Rangers farmhand since Curtis Terry in 2019 (63). Perich was named South Atlantic League Player of the Month in May with Hub City and was promoted on May 29 to Frisco, where he tallied a Texas League-high 27 doubles the rest of the year. The Allentown, Penn. product capped 2026 by batting .358 (29-81) in August and .400 (14-35) in September, registering a season-high-tying 5 RBI in his final regular season game last Friday at Wichita. Currently the club's 19th-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, Perich has totaled 33 home runs and 147 RBI in 221 career games since being selected in the 7th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
The honorees will be presented with their awards at Globe Life Field in a ceremony prior to the Rangers game on Saturday, September 19 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Texas Rangers Minor League Award Winners
Tom Grieve Player of the Year – INF Rafe Perich
Nolan Ryan Pitcher of the Year – LHP Dalton Pence
Reliever of the Year – LHP Louis Marinaro
Defender of the Year – INF Yolfran Castillo
True Ranger Award – RHP Evan Siary
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