In the heart of Texas, the Rangers are keeping a close eye on their left-handed pitcher as he makes his way back from a significant injury. On Saturday, the player took the mound for his second rehab start of the year with Double-A Frisco, and it was a performance that surely brought smiles to the faces of everyone involved.
In just two innings, he delivered scoreless, hitless baseball, striking out three and walking none. Out of the 20 pitches he threw, 15 were strikes, showcasing precision and control. This outing marks a careful step in his recovery journey from Tommy John surgery last year, and it’s clear that the team is taking a cautious approach to his return.
The pitcher seemed ready for more, reportedly eager to pitch a third inning. However, the decision was made to hold him back, and instead, he headed to the bullpen to continue his work. This suggests he threw beyond the 20 pitches recorded during the game, hinting at his eagerness to ramp up his workload.
Understandably, the pitcher is itching to get back to the Major League stage, having not pitched there since 2024. Yet, patience is key, especially with the Rangers currently grappling with their own rotation challenges.
Earlier this week, the Rangers had to place another pitcher, Jack Leiter, on the 15-day injured list due to an ankle injury that’s been troubling him since April. Following surgery, Leiter is expected to be sidelined until at least August.
In his absence, Cal Quantrill has stepped in as a starter, with his latest outing taking place in Toronto. Beyond that, the Rangers are relying on their bullpen to fill the gaps.
The organization is wise not to rush the left-hander’s return. They recognize the temptation he might feel to step up and fill the void in the rotation.
However, with only 33 pitches thrown in three rehab innings, he’s still in the early stages of building up his arm strength. Typically, teams prefer a starting pitcher to reach around 75 pitches before considering activation.
What’s crucial for the pitcher now is not just strengthening his arm but also proving his ability to locate pitches effectively. He’s not a pitcher who relies on sheer velocity-his fastball averaged 92.1 mph back in 2024.
Instead, he relies more heavily on his sinker and curveball, followed by a change-up and a four-seam fastball. Demonstrating control over these pitches will be key before he can make his return.
This is precisely why the Rangers brought him on board. They understood that injuries are part of the game and that opportunities in the rotation would arise.
The fact that it’s taken until June for such a need to emerge is a positive sign for Texas. However, the pitcher isn’t ready yet and likely won’t be for another month.
The Rangers are playing the long game here, and they’re right to do so. The need for a veteran starter will likely persist, and when he’s fully ready, he’ll be there to fill it. Until then, patience and careful progress are the names of the game.
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