Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers players: who played for both
Who played for both the Tigers and Rangers?
148 players played for both the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers between 1961 and 2025, including Ivan Rodriguez, Ed Brinkman, Ian Kinsler and Willie Horton. 75 of them played for the Tigers first and 70 for the Rangers first; 3 played for both in the same season.
Did you know?
- Chuck Cottier is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Tigers first, then the Rangers from 1961.
- Tucker Barnhart is the most recent: Tigers first, then the Rangers from 2025.
- Ivan Rodriguez played the most games across the two: 611 for the Tigers and 1,507 for the Rangers.
- 29 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Ivan Rodriguez.
- Most common positions on this list: P (73), OF (31), C (17), 2B (8).
How many can you name?
Name players who played for both the Tigers and the Rangers. The surname is enough. 0 / 148
All 148 players, most games for the two first
| Player | Pos | Tigers | Rangers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivan Rodriguez | C | 2004–2008 (611 g) | 1991–2002, 2009 (1507 g) |
| Ed Brinkman | SS | 1971–1974 (630 g) | 1961–1970, 1975 (1143 g) |
| Ian Kinsler | 2B | 2014–2017 (607 g) | 2006–2013 (1066 g) |
| Willie Horton | OF | 1963–1977 (1515 g) | 1977 (139 g) |
| Juan Gonzalez | OF | 2000 (115 g) | 1989–1999, 2002–2003 (1400 g) |
| Aurelio Rodriguez | 3B | 1971–1979 (1241 g) | 1970 (142 g) |
| Frank Howard | OF | 1972–1973 (99 g) | 1965–1972 (1172 g) |
| Ruben Sierra | OF | 1996 (46 g) | 1986–1992, 2000–2001, 2003 (1190 g) |
| Dean Palmer | 3B | 1999–2003 (382 g) | 1989, 1991–1997 (774 g) |
| Don Wert | 3B | 1963–1970 (1090 g) | 1971 (20 g) |
| Mickey Tettleton | C | 1991–1994 (570 g) | 1995–1997 (294 g) |
| Pete Incaviglia | OF | 1991, 1998 (104 g) | 1986–1990 (694 g) |
| Johnny Grubb | OF | 1983–1987 (361 g) | 1978–1982 (403 g) |
| Steve Kemp | OF | 1977–1981 (684 g) | 1988 (16 g) |
| Craig Monroe | OF | 2002–2007 (672 g) | 2001 (27 g) |
| Frank Catalanotto | OF | 1997–1999 (202 g) | 2000–2002, 2007–2008 (495 g) |
| Gerald Laird | C | 2009–2010, 2012 (287 g) | 2003–2008 (374 g) |
| Rusty Staub | OF | 1976–1979 (549 g) | 1980 (109 g) |
| Gary Ward | OF | 1989–1990 (211 g) | 1984–1986 (414 g) |
| Prince Fielder | 1B | 2012–2013 (324 g) | 2014–2016 (289 g) |
| Kenny Rogers | P | 2006–2008 (75 g) | 1989–1995, 2000–2002, 2004–2005 (529 g) |
| Scott Fletcher | SS | 1995 (67 g) | 1986–1989 (526 g) |
| Nomar Mazara | OF | 2021 (50 g) | 2016–2019 (537 g) |
| Gary Pettis | OF | 1988–1989, 1992 (296 g) | 1990–1991 (273 g) |
| Mike Henneman | P | 1987–1995 (491 g) | 1996 (49 g) |
| Marcus Thames | OF | 2004–2009 (485 g) | 2003 (30 g) |
| Leonys Martin | OF | 2018 (78 g) | 2011–2015 (429 g) |
| Joaquin Benoit | P | 2011–2013 (205 g) | 2001–2008 (274 g) |
| Carlos Peña | 1B | 2002–2005 (427 g) | 2001, 2014 (40 g) |
| Gabe Kapler | OF | 1998–1999 (137 g) | 2000–2002 (322 g) |
| Chuck Cottier | 2B | 1961 (10 g) | 1961–1965 (430 g) |
| Milt Cuyler | OF | 1990–1995 (433 g) | 1998 (7 g) |
| Andrew Romine | SS | 2014–2017 (436 g) | 2020 (2 g) |
| Elliott Maddox | OF | 1970 (109 g) | 1971–1973 (326 g) |
| Andy Ibanez | 2B | 2023–2025 (304 g) | 2021–2022 (116 g) |
| Robbie Grossman | OF | 2021–2022 (239 g) | 2023–2024 (161 g) |
| Alex Johnson | OF | 1976 (125 g) | 1973–1974 (272 g) |
| Chad Curtis | OF | 1995–1996 (248 g) | 2000–2001 (146 g) |
| Chad Kreuter | C | 1992–1994 (251 g) | 1988–1991, 2003 (135 g) |
| Francisco Cordero | P | 1999 (20 g) | 2000–2006 (356 g) |
| Bobo Osborne | 1B | 1957–1959, 1961–1962 (234 g) | 1963 (125 g) |
| Frank Tanana | P | 1985–1992 (250 g) | 1982–1985 (107 g) |
| Danny Patterson | P | 2000–2004 (180 g) | 1996–1999 (170 g) |
| Joe Coleman | P | 1971–1976 (203 g) | 1965–1970 (144 g) |
| Rick Leach | OF | 1981–1983 (235 g) | 1989 (110 g) |
| Doug Brocail | P | 1997–2000 (240 g) | 2004–2005 (104 g) |
| Mark Wagner | SS | 1976–1980 (220 g) | 1981–1983 (112 g) |
| Ron Kline | P | 1961–1962 (46 g) | 1963–1966 (260 g) |
| Chris Shelton | 1B | 2004–2006 (249 g) | 2008 (41 g) |
| Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C | 2016, 2018 (97 g) | 2007–2010 (193 g) |
| Doug Strange | 3B | 1989 (64 g) | 1993–1994 (218 g) |
| Steve Foucault | P | 1977–1978 (68 g) | 1973–1976 (206 g) |
| Bill Haselman | C | 1999 (48 g) | 1990, 1998, 2000–2002 (225 g) |
| Denny McLain | P | 1963–1970 (232 g) | 1971 (33 g) |
| Jim Hannan | P | 1971 (7 g) | 1962–1970 (248 g) |
| Nick Solak | 2B | 2023 (1 g) | 2019–2022 (253 g) |
| Dalton Jones | 2B | 1970–1972 (179 g) | 1972 (72 g) |
| Leon Roberts | OF | 1974–1975 (146 g) | 1981–1982 (103 g) |
| Dave Rozema | P | 1977–1984 (208 g) | 1985–1986 (40 g) |
| John Hicks | C | 2016–2019 (237 g) | 2021 (10 g) |
| Coot Veal | SS | 1958–1960, 1963 (177 g) | 1961 (69 g) |
| Neftali Feliz | P | 2015 (30 g) | 2009–2015 (216 g) |
| Phil Nevin | 3B | 1995–1997 (160 g) | 2005–2006 (75 g) |
| C. J. Nitkowski | P | 1995–1996, 1999–2001 (214 g) | 2002–2003 (18 g) |
| Barbaro Garbey | 1B | 1984–1985 (196 g) | 1988 (30 g) |
| Bob Humphreys | P | 1962 (4 g) | 1966–1970 (214 g) |
| Derek Holland | P | 2021 (39 g) | 2009–2016 (179 g) |
| Bill Fahey | C | 1981–1983 (74 g) | 1971–1972, 1974–1977 (143 g) |
| Colby Lewis | P | 2006 (2 g) | 2002–2004, 2010–2012, 2014–2016 (205 g) |
| Joe Nathan | P | 2014–2015 (63 g) | 2012–2013 (133 g) |
| Dave Tobik | P | 1978–1982 (137 g) | 1983–1984 (51 g) |
| Billy Ripken | 2B | 1998 (27 g) | 1993–1994, 1997 (153 g) |
| Max Scherzer | P | 2010–2014 (161 g) | 2023–2024 (17 g) |
| Pete Burnside | P | 1959–1960 (61 g) | 1961–1963 (111 g) |
| Jason Grilli | P | 2005–2008 (120 g) | 2009, 2017 (50 g) |
| Doyle Alexander | P | 1987–1989 (78 g) | 1977–1979 (88 g) |
| Duke Sims | C | 1972–1973 (118 g) | 1974 (39 g) |
| Wayne Comer | OF | 1967–1968, 1972 (79 g) | 1970 (77 g) |
| Bryan Holaday | C | 2012–2015, 2017 (121 g) | 2016 (30 g) |
| Jim Adduci | OF | 2017–2018 (88 g) | 2013–2014 (61 g) |
| Mark Lowe | P | 2016 (54 g) | 2010–2012 (91 g) |
| Franklyn German | P | 2002–2005 (126 g) | 2008 (17 g) |
| Mike Munoz | P | 1991–1993 (79 g) | 1999–2000 (63 g) |
| Brian Bohanon | P | 1995 (52 g) | 1990–1994 (87 g) |
| Andrew Chafin | P | 2022, 2024 (105 g) | 2024 (21 g) |
| Doug Flynn | 2B | 1985 (32 g) | 1982 (88 g) |
| Drew Smyly | P | 2012–2014 (107 g) | 2019 (13 g) |
| Dave Sisler | P | 1959–1960 (73 g) | 1961 (45 g) |
| Ugueth Urbina | P | 2004–2005 (79 g) | 2003 (39 g) |
| Joakim Soria | P | 2014–2015 (56 g) | 2013–2014 (61 g) |
| Jerry Don Gleaton | P | 1990–1991 (104 g) | 1979–1980 (10 g) |
| Jeff Robinson | P | 1987–1990 (96 g) | 1992 (16 g) |
| Derek Hill | OF | 2020–2022 (95 g) | 2024 (16 g) |
| Carson Kelly | C | 2023–2024 (79 g) | 2024 (31 g) |
| Bill Madlock | 3B | 1987 (87 g) | 1973 (21 g) |
| Ed Nunez | P | 1989–1990 (69 g) | 1992 (39 g) |
| Matt Moore | P | 2019 (2 g) | 2018, 2022 (102 g) |
| Justin Thompson | P | 1996–1999 (101 g) | 2005 (2 g) |
| Tucker Barnhart | C | 2022 (94 g) | 2025 (8 g) |
| Joe Grzenda | P | 1961 (4 g) | 1970–1971 (95 g) |
| Al Levine | P | 2004 (65 g) | 1998 (30 g) |
| Bobby Wilson | C | 2016, 2019 (20 g) | 2015–2016 (73 g) |
| Matt Treanor | C | 2009 (4 g) | 2010–2011 (89 g) |
| Andres Torres | OF | 2002–2004 (81 g) | 2005 (8 g) |
| Jeff Baker | 2B | 2012 (15 g) | 2013 (74 g) |
| Armando Galarraga | P | 2008–2010 (84 g) | 2007 (3 g) |
| Esteban Yan | P | 2004 (69 g) | 2003 (15 g) |
| Doug Fister | P | 2011–2013 (70 g) | 2018 (12 g) |
| Dan Miceli | P | 1997 (71 g) | 2002 (9 g) |
| Matt Perisho | P | 2001–2002 (35 g) | 1998–2000 (40 g) |
| Julio Santana | P | 2002 (38 g) | 1997–1998 (33 g) |
| Shelby Miller | P | 2024 (51 g) | 2019 (19 g) |
| Todd Van Poppel | P | 1996 (9 g) | 1998, 2002–2003 (61 g) |
| Dwayne Henry | P | 1995 (10 g) | 1984–1988 (54 g) |
| Jose Urena | P | 2021 (26 g) | 2024 (33 g) |
| Rafael Montero | P | 2025 (20 g) | 2019–2020 (39 g) |
| Luke Jackson | P | 2025 (3 g) | 2015–2016, 2025 (54 g) |
| Howie Koplitz | P | 1961–1962 (16 g) | 1964–1966 (40 g) |
| Orlando Mercado | C | 1987 (10 g) | 1986 (46 g) |
| Pete Kozma | SS | 2018 (27 g) | 2017 (28 g) |
| Dickie Noles | P | 1987 (4 g) | 1984–1985 (46 g) |
| Mike Marshall | P | 1967 (37 g) | 1977 (12 g) |
| Johnny Klippstein | P | 1967 (5 g) | 1961 (42 g) |
| Clay Rapada | P | 2007–2009 (32 g) | 2010 (13 g) |
| Josh Wilson | SS | 2015 (21 g) | 2014 (24 g) |
| Alan Koch | P | 1963–1964 (11 g) | 1964 (32 g) |
| Tom Sturdivant | P | 1963 (28 g) | 1961 (15 g) |
| Drew Hutchison | P | 2021–2022 (37 g) | 2018 (5 g) |
| Shawn Hare | OF | 1991–1992 (24 g) | 1995 (18 g) |
| Mark Parent | C | 1996 (38 g) | 1991 (3 g) |
| Victor Santos | P | 2001 (33 g) | 2003 (8 g) |
| Matt Stairs | OF | 2006 (14 g) | 2006 (26 g) |
| Michael Lorenzen | P | 2023 (18 g) | 2024 (19 g) |
| Ed Farmer | P | 1973 (24 g) | 1979 (11 g) |
| Bill Denehy | P | 1971 (31 g) | 1968 (3 g) |
| Mickey Mahler | P | 1985 (3 g) | 1986 (29 g) |
| Eddie Miller | OF | 1982 (14 g) | 1977 (17 g) |
| Greg Cadaret | P | 1994 (17 g) | 1998 (11 g) |
| Jermaine Clark | OF | 2001 (3 g) | 2003 (24 g) |
| Renato Nunez | DH | 2021 (14 g) | 2018 (13 g) |
| Dick Donovan | P | 1954 (2 g) | 1961 (24 g) |
| Jim Poole | P | 2000 (18 g) | 1991 (5 g) |
| Hal Woodeshick | P | 1956, 1961 (14 g) | 1961 (7 g) |
| Marcus Jensen | C | 1997 (8 g) | 2001 (11 g) |
| Tyson Ross | P | 2019 (7 g) | 2017 (12 g) |
| Lance McCullers | P | 1990 (9 g) | 1992 (5 g) |
| Brandon Villafuerte | P | 2000 (3 g) | 2001 (6 g) |
| Codi Heuer | P | 2025 (2 g) | 2025 (1 g) |
From the SABR Lahman Baseball Database (CC BY-SA 3.0), 1876–2025. A season counts when the player played at least one regular-season game for the franchise.Rangers seasons include the Washington Senators (1961–1971).
What next? Play today's MLB Grid
Fill a 3×3 board of team pairs like this one, with nine guesses and a rarity score. New board every day.
Play the MLB GridMLB career pathTigers historyRangers history
More “played for both” lists
Detroit Tigers and…
Orioles 247Guardians 223Athletics 219Red Sox 215White Sox 209Yankees 204Twins 202Reds 178Dodgers 176Phillies 174
Questions
How many players have played for both the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers?
148 in the Lahman Baseball Database from 1961 to 2025, including Ivan Rodriguez, Ed Brinkman, Ian Kinsler and Willie Horton. A player counts when he played at least one regular-season game for each franchise.
Who was the first player on this list to play for both?
Chuck Cottier: Detroit Tigers first, then the Texas Rangers from 1961.
Who has played for both recently?
Andy Ibanez, Robbie Grossman, Max Scherzer, Andrew Chafin, Derek Hill and Carson Kelly and 7 more, with a season for one of the two in 2024 or 2025.
Does a player count if the team has moved or changed its name?
Yes. Seasons count for today's franchise, the way the Lahman database links every team-season to a franchise. Rangers seasons include the Washington Senators (1961–1971).
Careers from the SABR Lahman Baseball Database (CC BY-SA 3.0). Team logos are trademarks of their respective teams (logos via TheSportsDB). Independent and not affiliated with MLB or any team. Credits

