A fan wave a cap after Texas Rangers center fielder Cam Cauley (27) hit a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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ARLINGTON — He wanted to look like he’d been here before, and at this rate, he may just remain.
Rangers center fielder Cam Cauley hit his first career home run in a 4-2 loss vs. the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field Monday night and was arguably the lone bright spot as the team has now lost four of six games since the All-Star break. Cauley, who made his big league debut at the end of last month, hit left-handed pitcher Anthony Kay’s high fastball into the right field seats to tie the game at one run apiece in the bottom of the second inning.
Texas Rangers catcher Elias Díaz (35) walks to the bench after striking out during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers batter Elias Diaz unleashes a mighty swing but comes up empty while at the plate in the bottom of the 9th inning against the Chicago White Sox. The Texas Rangers hosted the Chicago White Sox for the teams’ MLB game at Globe Life Field in Arlington on July 20, 2026.
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Chicago White Sox pitcher Bryan Hudson (60) celebrates with his teammates Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5), right, and Chicago White Sox catcher Edgar Quero (26) after their 4-2 victory against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers catcher Elias Díaz (35) walks back to the home plate after talking with pitcher Peyton Gray (75) during the eighth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Peyton Gray (75) delivers during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Robby Ahlstrom (54) delivers during the seventh inning of a baseball game against Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers left fielder Alejandro Osuna (19) catches a fly ball hit by Chicago White Sox catcher Edgar Quero (26) during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Jakob Junis (16) delivers during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) catches the ball hit by Texas Rangers shortstop Nicky Lopez (33) during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers left fielder Alejandro Osuna (19) celebrates as Texas Rangers Brandon Nimmo (24) scores during the fourth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington. Texas Rangers catcher Elias Díaz (35) grounded into double play.
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Texas Rangers pitching coach Jordan Tiegs (83), right, speaks to Texas Rangers pitcher Cal Quantrill (44) as Texas Rangers catcher Elias Díaz (35) listens during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Cal Quantrill (44) delivers during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas (20) drops the ball hit by Texas Rangers Justin Foscue (14) as Texas Rangers Alejandro Osuna (19), left, runs to the third during the third inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers center fielder Cam Cauley (27) gets a high-five from Texas Rangers third base coach Corey Ragsdale (64) after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Chicago White Sox right fielder Braden Montgomery (24) looks away as Texas Rangers Cam Cauley (27) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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during the second inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Nicky Lopez (33) throws to first for a double play after forcing out Chicago White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth (10) at second during the second inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington. Texas Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue (14), right, looks on.
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Chicago White Sox right fielder Braden Montgomery (24) is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Tyler Alexander (13) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers catcher Elias Díaz (35) is seen before a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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SMU Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings, left, poses for a photo with his head coach Rhett Lashlee after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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Members of the Texas Rangers Six Shooters perform before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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He hustled hard around the first two bases before he downshifted as he rounded third.
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“I didn’t want to run too fast and look like I’d never been there before,” Cauley said. “In my minor league homers, I kind of slowly trot, so I was like, ‘alright, calm down, just relax.'”
That exact thought process has allowed Cauley to settle in at the big league level. The 23-year-old has slashed .357/.471/.714 in his last seven games, has recorded a hit in four of his last five and largely played in the outfield for a team that’s mostly needed to crowd its bench depth in the infield.
“I just try and keep it simple,” Cauley said. “I know what my role is. I’m not here to slug and I’m not here to hit homers. I’m here to get on base — whether that’s reaching on an error, hit by pitch or a homer — any way I can get on base, and help the top of the lineup out, that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Cauley, a former third-round draft pick, went unselected in last winter’s Rule 5 draft before he turned heads at big league camp this spring because of his speed, defensive ability and improved hit tool. He reached base in the bottom of the sixth inning when he used his 30.6 feet per second sprint speed to force an errant throw from White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas.
“I really like what he’s doing,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “He got on base a couple of times if you include the home run. That’s all you can ask for a young kid, to get on base, cause some havoc, put some at-bats together. I don’t know what his OPS is, but it’s over .750, so he’s doing a heck of a job so far.”
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The issue Wednesday night was that Cauley’s second-inning home run accounted for half of their runs and his sixth-inning sprint provided their last base runner of the game. The Rangers finished 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position, and with the bases loaded with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth inning, they scored all of one run when catcher Elias Diaz grounded into a double play.
Their .481 OPS with the bases loaded is the worst in baseball this season.
“That was the difference in the game,” Schumaker said, “and a little bit of an issue the whole year, quite honestly, in bases-loaded situations.”
Texas Rangers players are seen in the dugout during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Arlington.
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It nullified an otherwise fine patchwork pitching performance. The opener-and-bulk duo of left-handed pitcher Tyler Alexander and right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill allowed three runs in five innings as the Rangers continue to make creative efforts to maximize their advantages. Alexander started against a White Sox lineup that was stacked with left-handed hitters at the top of the order, but in the second inning, right-handed hitter Chase Meidroth singled in the game’s first run off of him. Quantrill relieved him after that and allowed two runs on two walks and two singles in the fourth inning before high-leverage arms Jakob Junis, Peyton Gray and Jacob Latz finished the game.
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“We had the bullpen set up to keep us in the game and give our offense a chance,” Schumaker said, “and I thought they did that quite honestly.”
The offense — save for a rookie — didn’t hold up its end of the bargain.