Fans keep seeing players names coming. Fans keep seeing players names going. So what have the Rangers done to improve the major league roster so far? I thought I would take a look, try to help you wade through the names. It can get rather difficult to keep up with.
The Rangers lost Martin Perez, Doug Fister, Matt Moore, Ryan Rua, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Chi Chi Gonzalez and Robinson Chirinos. Here are some names on the forty man roster you may not know:
Kyle Bird – the 25 year old left handed pitcher that spent most of his time in 2018 in AAA ball with the Durham Bulls. He had an ERA of 1.94 in Durham, he struck out 65 while walking 28 in 55.2 innings pitched. He has a chance of making the roster as a reliever.
Brock Burke – the 22 year old left handed pitcher spent most of his time in 2018 in A ball, and some in AA. He had an ERA of 3.84 in A ball, while in AA ball he fared much better, with an ERA of 1.95 with 71 strikeouts and 14 walks in 55.1 innings pitched. I do not see him as a viable major league option out of camp.
Wei-Chieh Huang – the 25 year old right handed pitcher finished the year with Frisco in 2018. In nine games with the RoughRiders, Huang threw twenty innings and produced ERA of 6.30 with 25 strikeouts and 8 walks. In AA Jackson he fared a little better, having an ERA of 2.00.
Brett Martin – The 22 year old left handed pitcher played 29 games for Frisco in 2018. He struggled a bit at the AA level, throwing for an ERA of 7.28 with 96 strikeouts and 29 walks in 89 innings pitched. In A (advanced) ball, he fared a little better with and ERA of 4.70. I also don’t see him as an option out of spring training.
Joe Palumbo – The 24 year old left handed pitcher was also at Frisco in 2018. He had a 1.93 ERA with 10 strikeouts and 3 walks in just 9.1 innings pitched at that level. In A ball he a 2.67 ERA in 27 innings pitched. He has great potential but again, he should not be ready out of spring training, as he needs more time in upper levels.
Jordan Romano – The 25 year old right handed pitcher spent time in both AA and AAA ball in 2018. He had an ERA of 4.13 in AA ball and and ERA of 3.60 in AAA ball. He has a chance to break through into the pen in 2019, depending on how his spring training goes.
So there is a look at some of the young talent in the Rangers minor league system. I look forward to seeing how they progress in 2019.
