The Texas Rangers received another concerning injury update on September 15, 2026, as designated hitter Joc Pederson was diagnosed with a small fracture in his left hand.
The veteran slugger had already been dealing with significant swelling after being hit by a pitch during Texas’ September 12 matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Initial X-rays were negative, creating some hope that the injury might not be serious, but additional evaluation revealed the fracture. Pederson was subsequently held out of the Rangers’ lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.
The injury occurred on September 12, when Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt hit Pederson in the left wrist/hand with a fastball. Pederson initially remained in the game and even ran the bases after the incident, but he was eventually removed from the lineup and replaced by a pinch hitter.
The Rangers won that game 6-2, but Pederson’s injury quickly became a major concern. The initial X-rays did not show a fracture, although his hand remained sore and swollen enough to require a brace and further examination.
By September 15, further testing had confirmed the small fracture, leaving the Rangers without one of their key power bats at a critical point of the season.
Pederson has been one of Texas’ leading home-run hitters in 2026, entering the injury with 26 home runs, tied for the team lead. His absence is particularly significant because the Rangers are attempting to remain in the postseason race with the regular season entering its final stretch.
Despite the fracture, Pederson has not given up on returning this season. According to reports on September 15, he is hoping the swelling decreases over the next few days and that he can eventually play through the injury.
That means the Rangers have not officially classified the injury as season-ending, and his eventual return will depend on how quickly the hand heals and whether he can grip and swing a bat comfortably.
The timing nevertheless creates another difficult situation for Texas. The Rangers had just welcomed Nathan Eovaldi and Josh Jung back from the injured list on September 12, only to lose Pederson to another injury during the same stretch.
Texas subsequently recalled Alejandro Osuna from Triple-A Round Rock, with reports indicating that the move was connected to the uncertainty surrounding Pederson’s availability. For now, the Rangers will have to wait and see whether Pederson can recover quickly enough to contribute during the final games of the 2026 campaign.
