Round Rock Express

The Round Rock Express are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. They are located in Round Rock, Texas, and play their home games at the Dell Diamond.^[2] The team is named for Baseball Hall of Famer and Texas native Nolan Ryan, who was nicknamed "The Ryan Express."^[3] Ryan, along with son Reid Ryan and Don Sanders make up the team's ownership group, Ryan Sanders Baseball.^[4]

Round Rock Express
Founded in 2000 Round Rock, Texas
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Class	Triple-A (2005–present)
Previous classes	Double-A (2000–2004)
League	Pacific Coast League (2005–present)
Division	East Division
Previous leagues	Texas League (2000–2004)
Major league affiliations
Team	Texas Rangers (2021–present)
Previous teams	Houston Astros (2019–2020) Texas Rangers (2011–2018) Houston Astros (2000–2010)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)	2000
Conference titles (3)	2006 2015 2019
Division titles (7)	2000 2001 2004 2006 2011 2015 2019
First-half titles (4)	2000 2001 2002 2004
Second-half titles (2)	2004 2023
Team data
Name	Round Rock Express (2000–present)
Colors	Navy blue, red, silver, white
Mascot	Spike
Ballpark	Dell Diamond (2000–present)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Ryan Sanders Baseball
President	Chris Almendarez[1]
General manager	Tim Jackson[1]
Manager	Doug Davis
Website	milb.com/round-rock

The Express were established as a Double-A team of the Texas League (TL) in 2000. They won the Texas League championship in 2000. Round Rock was replaced by a Triple-A Pacific Coast League team in 2005. The Triple-A Express carried on the history of the Double-A team that preceded them. With Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Express were shifted to the Triple-A West, which was renamed the PCL in 2022.

History

The ownership group led by Nolan Ryan and Don Sanders began its operations in Round Rock in 2000 as the Dell Diamond opened, moving the Double-A Texas League's Jackson Generals to the new park, affiliating with the Houston Astros and setting attendance records for the Double-A level. By 2003, Corpus Christi had offered the Ryan-Sanders group $20 million to build a stadium and move a professional franchise there, and the ownership group was convinced Round Rock could support Triple-A baseball.^[5]

An Express game at the Dell Diamond at night

Meanwhile, the Pacific Coast League's Edmonton Trappers franchise, left isolated by the departure of the Calgary Cannons after the 2002 season for Albuquerque, was under pressure from the rest of the league to relocate to the United States. After the 2003 season, the Ryan group purchased the Trappers franchise with plans to relocate that franchise to Round Rock for 2005, once the Corpus Christi stadium would be ready for the Double-A franchise.^[6] The Triple-A club would carry on the Round Rock Express identity; the Double-A club would become the Corpus Christi Hooks, and the Ryan group was able to negotiate an affiliation swap with the New Orleans Zephyrs to obtain the Astros' Triple-A affiliation for the newly-arriving PCL club.

In 2006, the Round Rock Express clinched the Southern Division of the league's American Conference with a win–loss record of 85–59. After defeating the Nashville Sounds in five games to take the American Conference championship, they advanced to the PCL championship series, but lost to the Tucson Sidewinders in three straight games.

In 2011, after 6 seasons of serving as the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, and 11 seasons of being affiliated with the Astros overall, the Express became the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Through the end of the 2018 season, attendance figures have dropped 8% since changing affiliations from Houston to Texas (see table below). Each of the top 9 season attendances all occurred in the 11 seasons the team was affiliated with Houston.

In 2016, Forbes listed the Express as the sixth-most valuable Minor League Baseball team with a value of $40 million.^[7]

On September 20, 2018, the Express announced a 4-year Player Development Contract with the Houston Astros.^[8] In conjunction with Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minors after the 2020 season, the Astros opted to discontinue their affiliation with Round Rock, leaving them in need of a new major league affiliate.^[9][10]

The Express later re-affiliated with the Texas Rangers for 2021 and were organized into the Triple-A West.^[11][12] Round Rock ended the season tied for second place in the Eastern Division with a 61–58 record.^[13] No playoffs were held to determine a league champion; instead, the team with the best regular-season record was declared the winner.^[14] However, 10 games that had been postponed from the start of the season were reinserted into the schedule as a postseason tournament called the Triple-A Final Stretch in which all 30 Triple-A clubs competed for the highest winning percentage.^[14] Round Rock finished the tournament tied for seventh place with a 6–4 record.^[15] In 2022, the Triple-A West became known as the Pacific Coast League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.^[16]

Playing under a split-season format in 2023 in which the teams with the best league-wide records at the end of each half qualified for the playoffs,^[17] Round Rock won the second-half title at 45–30.^[18] Overall, the team posted the league's second-best record, 89–60.^[19] In a single round of playoffs to determine the PCL championship versus the Oklahoma City Dodgers, winners of the first half, the Express were defeated, two games to none.^[20]

Season-by-season records

Table key

League	The team's final position in the league standings
Division	The team's final position in the divisional standings
GB	Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season
‡	Class champions (2005–present)
†	League champions (2000–present)
§	Conference champions (2005–2020)
*	Division champions (2000–present)
^	Postseason berth (2000–present)

Season-by-season records

Season	League	Regular-season					Postseason			MLB affiliate	Ref.
		Record	Win %	League	Division	GB	Record	Win %	Result
2000 ^ * †	TL	83–57	.593	1st	1st	—	7–3	.700		Won First Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. El Paso Diablos, 3–2 Won TL championship vs. Wichita Wranglers, 4–1[21]	Houston Astros	[22]
2001 ^ *	TL	86–54	.614	1st	1st	—	3–4	.429	Won First Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. San Antonio Missions, 3–2 Lost TL championship vs. Arkansas Travelers, 2–0[23]	Houston Astros	[24]
2002 ^	TL	75–65	.536	4th	3rd	2	2–3	.400	Won First Half Western Division title Lost Western Division title vs. San Antonio Missions, 3–2[25]	Houston Astros	[26]
2003	TL	46–94	.329	8th	4th	42+1⁄2	—	—	—	Houston Astros	[27]
2004 ^ *	TL	86–54	.614	1st	1st	—	1–4	.200	Won First and Second Half Western Division titles Won Western Division title Lost TL championship vs. Frisco RoughRiders, 4–1[28]	Houston Astros	[29]
2005	PCL	74–70	.514	7th	3rd	6+1⁄2	—	—	—	Houston Astros	[30]
2006 * §	PCL	85–59	.590	2nd	1st	—	3–5	.375	Won American Conference Southern Division title Won American Conference title vs. Nashville Sounds, 3–2 Lost PCL championship vs. Tucson Sidewinders, 3–0	Houston Astros	[31]
2007	PCL	61–81	.430	14th	4th	13	—	—	—	Houston Astros	[32]
2008	PCL	64–79	.448	13th	4th	11+1⁄2	—	—	—	Houston Astros	[33]
2009	PCL	63–81	.438	15th	4th	17	—	—	—	Houston Astros	[34]
2010	PCL	57–87	.396	16th	4th	16+1⁄2	—	—	—	Houston Astros	[35]
2011 *	PCL	87–57	.604	2nd	1st	—	1–3	.250	Won American Conference Southern Division title Lost American Conference title vs. Omaha Storm Chasers, 3–1	Texas Rangers	[36]
2012	PCL	69–75	.479	11th	4th	11	—	—	—	Texas Rangers	[37]
2013	PCL	73–71	.507	8th	3rd	9	—	—	—	Texas Rangers	[38]
2014	PCL	70–74	.486	11th (tie)	3rd (tie)	9+1⁄2	—	—	—	Texas Rangers	[39]
2015 * §	PCL	78–66	.542	5th (tie)	1st	—	5–3	.625	Won American Conference Southern Division title Won American Conference title vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers, 3–0 Lost PCL championship vs. Fresno Grizzlies, 3–2	Texas Rangers	[40]
2016	PCL	71–72	.497	7th (tie)	2nd	12+1⁄2	—	—	—	Texas Rangers	[41]
2017	PCL	66–72	.478	12th	3rd	23+1⁄2	—	—	—	Texas Rangers	[42]
2018	PCL	65–73	.471	12th (tie)	4th	17	—	—	—	Texas Rangers	[43]
2019 * §	PCL	84–56	.600	1st	1st	—	3–5	.375	Won American Conference Southern Division title Won American Conference title vs. Iowa Cubs, 3–2 Lost PCL championship vs. Sacramento River Cats, 3–0	Houston Astros	[44]
2020	PCL	Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)[45]								Houston Astros	[46]
2021	AAAW	61–58	.513	5th (tie)	2nd (tie)	9+1⁄2	6–4	.600	Won series vs. Tacoma Rainiers, 3–2 Won series vs. Sugar Land Skeeters, 3–2 Placed 7th (tie) in the Triple-A Final Stretch[15]	Texas Rangers	[13]
2022	PCL	79–71	.527	3rd	2nd	6	—	—	—	Texas Rangers	[47]
2023 ^	PCL	89–60	.597	2nd	2nd	1+1⁄2	0–2	.000	Won second-half title[18] Lost PCL championship vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers, 2–0[20]	Texas Rangers	[19]
2024	PCL	71–77	.480	7th	3rd	21+1⁄2	—	—	—	Texas Rangers	[48]
Totals	—	1,743–1,663	.512	—	—	—	31–36	.463	—	—	—

Dell Diamond attendance

The Round Rock Express play home games at the Dell Diamond.

Season average attendance^[49][50]

Season	Average	Games	Total attendance	Affiliation
2000	9,430	70	660,110	Houston Astros (Double-A)
2001	9,554	70	668,792	Houston Astros (Double-A)
2002	9,573	70	670,176	Houston Astros (Double-A)
2003	9,799	70	685,973	Houston Astros (Double-A)
2004	9,847	70	689,286	Houston Astros (Double-A)
2005	9,726	72	700,277	Houston Astros (Triple-A)
2006	9,413	72	677,706	Houston Astros (Triple-A)
2007	9,466	70	662,595	Houston Astros (Triple-A)
2008	9,286	72	668,623	Houston Astros (Triple-A)
2009	8,707	72	626,899	Houston Astros (Triple-A)
2010	8,408	71	596,985	Houston Astros (Triple-A)
2011	8,587	72	618,261	Texas Rangers (Triple-A)
2012	8,389	71	595,584	Texas Rangers (Triple-A)
2013	8,181	72	589,042	Texas Rangers (Triple-A)
2014	8,390	71	595,700	Texas Rangers (Triple-A)
2015	8,623	69	595,012	Texas Rangers (Triple-A)
2016	8,627	71	613,226	Texas Rangers (Triple-A)
2017	8,724	70	610,681	Texas Rangers (Triple-A)
2018	8,809	70	616,636	Texas Rangers (Triple-A)
2019	8,542	70	597,928	Houston Astros (Triple-A)
2020	Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)[45]			Houston Astros (Triple-A)

Attendance ranking by affiliation (through 2018)

Rank	Average	Affiliation	Seasons	Games	Total attendance
1	9,311	Houston Astros	12	849	7,905,350
2	8,540	Texas Rangers	8	566	4,834,142

Roster

Round Rock Express roster

• v
• t
• e

Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 18 Dane Acker 28 Robby Ahlstrom 57 Aidan Anderson 38 Joe Barlow 35 David Buchanan 50 Marc Church * 56 Luis Curvelo * 33 Dane Dunning 45 Matt Festa 58 Gerson Garabito * 40 Ryan Garcia 26 Codi Heuer 54 Nolan Hoffman 14 Adrian Houser 59 Patrick Murphy 49 Michael Plassmeyer 36 Daniel Robert * 27 Hunter Strickland 30 Emiliano Teodo * 22 Cole Winn *		Catchers 44 Tucker Barnhart  1 Konner Piotto 12 Chad Wallach Infielders 79 Jax Biggers  5 Blaine Crim  3 Alex De Goti ~ 21 Ezequiel Duran  7 Justin Foscue *  6 Cody Freeman 17 Trevor Hauver 24 Jonathan Ornelas * 15 Alan Trejo Outfielders 11 Evan Carter *  9 Sam Haggerty  2 Kellen Strahm		Manager 23 Doug Davis Coaches 58 Dave Borkowski (bullpen) -- Jon Goebel (pitching)  8 Josh Johnson (development) 20 Chase Lambin (bench)  0 Matt Lawson (hitting) 7-day injured list * On Texas Rangers 40-man roster ~ Development list # Rehab assignment ∞ Reserve list ‡ Restricted list § Suspended list † Temporarily inactive list Roster updated April 23, 2025 Transactions → More rosters: MiLB • Pacific Coast League → Texas Rangers minor league players

Notable alumni

• Yordan Alvarez (born 1997), MLB designated hitter and outfielder
• Josh Banks (born 1982), MLB pitcher
• Richard Bleier (born 1987), MLB pitcher
• John Buck, MLB catcher
• Roger Clemens, MLB pitcher
• Chris Davis, MLB first baseman
• Morgan Ensberg, MLB third baseman
• Joey Gallo, MLB outfielder and first baseman
• Mike Gallo, MLB pitcher
• Craig Gentry, MLB outfielder
• Keith Ginter, MLB onfielder
• Jason Hirsh, MLB pitcher
• Josh Jung, MLB third baseman
• Roy Oswalt, MLB pitcher
• Humberto Quintero, MLB catcher
• Myles Straw, MLB outfielder
• Taylor Teagarden, MLB catcher
• Hunter Pence, MLB outfielder
• Willy Taveras, MLB outfielder
• Kyle Tucker, MLB outfielder
• José Urquidy, MLB pitcher

Popular culture

The "Play Ball" episode of The Simple Life, a reality television series starring young wealthy socialites Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, took place during an Express game. The show aired on July 21, 2004, as the 15th episode of the show's second season.^[51]

The team made headlines in 2010 when it "signed" Billy Ray "Rojo" Johnson, described in a press release as an East Texan who grew up in Venezuela and had run-ins with the law. In reality, Johnson was actor Will Ferrell, who briefly took the mound at Dell Diamond to promote his nearby charity golf tournament.^[52]