The Rangers spent 2026 leaning hard on the next wave of arms, and Gavin Collyer was one of the young relievers thrown into the fire. With injuries piling up all year - from Chris Martin, Robert Garcia, and Jalen Beeks early on to Jakob Junis later - Texas had little choice but to keep reaching into the minors for help. That led to opportunities for Robby Ahlstrom, Ben Peoples, Gavin Collyer, and Adam Macko, though the results came and went as the youth showed through.
Among that group, Collyer stands out as the one most likely to make the biggest jump in 2027. He has the kind of arm talent that gets attention fast, and the Rangers believe his best stuff could turn him into a major piece of the bullpen before long.
Last season, Collyer logged 25 innings across 24 appearances in middle relief. He flashed the power that makes him so intriguing, striking out 23 hitters, but the command was uneven and he issued 19 walks. That balance - stuff first, refinement second - defined his first taste of the majors.
Still, there’s real shape to his arsenal. Collyer works with a four-seam fastball that can reach 98 mph and generated a 34% whiff rate. He also leans on a cutter that he throws 33% of the time and that posted a 23% whiff rate, plus a mid-80s sweeper he used 23% of the time with a 29.1% whiff rate.
The fourth pitch may be the one that changes everything. Collyer only began throwing the sinker before the 2026 season, and it became part of his mix at a 17.7% clip this year.
Even now, he doesn’t fully trust it in high-leverage spots. Once that pitch becomes a reliable option alongside the other three, he’ll be far harder for hitters to square up.
The next step is command. He’s close enough that a few adjustments could tighten things up, and the Rangers want pitching coach Jordan Tiegs to work with him in Surprise next season to sharpen his release point and delivery angle.
There’s plenty to like already, but the organization knows the finishing work matters. The Rangers won’t have money to chase big bullpen additions, so Collyer’s development could end up carrying real weight.
The arm is electric. The task now is turning that raw power into something dependable.
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Walcotts assignment this fall is about more than box scores, though. Texas is using the next stretch to help him regain comfort and keep expanding his game, including work at designated hitter and time in the outfield as he builds toward next season, when he is expected to start at Triple-A Round Rock. For a player with his talent and still-growing profile, every rep has a little extra meaning. [Read more 🡒]
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The harder question is whether the Rangers can make the kind of painful roster move that would open up more room to maneuver. The conversation naturally leads to veteran money, and one contract stands out as the kind of decision that could reshape the entire offseason if the club decides to act on it. For a team trying to thread the needle between present contention and a fresher roster, that sort of call may end up mattering as much as any external addition. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Face A Tough Jacob deGrom Decision This Winter
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The idea sounds simple until the details get involved. Any hypothetical deal would have to clear deGrom himself, and the kind of young talent Texas would need back would be substantial enough to justify moving on from a pitcher of his stature. For now, it remains exactly what it sounds like: a winter possibility with plenty of intrigue, but no easy path for the Rangers to navigate. [Read more 🡒]