The Rangers Roster Breakdown: The Bullpen Part 2

Do I regret calling this a series a breakdown? Of course! But here we are, in the third part, it’s too late to change it now.

BULLPEN CONTINUED

THE YOUNG LEFTIES

We’ll get a good look at all of these guys during camp but Springs has the best chance out of the group of making the team out of spring training. However, all of these lefties have a chance at pitching in the majors at some point throughout the season.

Jeffrey Springs- LHP

Springs had 18 games with in the big leagues last season and made two “starts” (again an opener.) He went 1-1 with a 1.44 WHIP in 32 innings pitched.

In the 33 games in the minors (combined at Frisco and Round Rock) last season, he went 4-4 with a 4.13 ERA and 15.56 k/9 in 56.2 innings.

In T.R. Sullivan’s preview of these lefties, he makes note of Springs average 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings over four minor league seasons being a big reason why the Rangers are focusing on the 26-year-old.

2018 Major League ERA: 3.38
2018 Major League FIP: 4.25
2018 Major League K/9: 8.72

ZiPS Projected 2019 ERA: 4.98
ZiPS Projected 2019 FIP: 4.90
ZiPS Projected 2019 k/9: 9.55

Injury Report:
NONE

C.D. Pelham- LHP

Pelham pitched in 10 games last season and a total of 7.2 innings.

His overall 2018 minor league stats, he went 2-0 with a 3.66 ERA in 46.2 innings with a 10.22 k/9 rate.

He started the season in the Carolina league at the Down East Wood Ducks. He pitched 23 games, with a 1.95 ERA and a 2.53 FIP, going 11-for-11 in save opportunities.

After 27.2 innings pitched with the Wood Ducks, he was assigned to Frisco in June. He went 2-0 in 24 games with 6.16 ERA and a 4.66 FIP. He was credited with three holds, and went 2-for-2 in save opportunities in 19 innings pitched.

2018 Major League ERA: 7.04
2018 Major League FIP: 2.90
2018 Major League K/9: 8.22

ZiPS Projected 2019 ERA: 5.17
ZiPS Projected 2019 FIP: 5.02
ZiPS Projected 2019 k/9: 7.28

Injury Report:
NONE

Kyle Bird- LHP

Kyle Bird is one of the players the Rangers got from Tampa Bay in the three team trade that resulted in Jurickson Profar landing in Oakland.

Bird was drafted in 2014 by the Rays and has spent all of the last five seasons in the minor leagues, yet to make his major league debut. He spent time in both triple A and double A in 2018.

With double A, he went 0-2 in 16 games, including one start and four saves. He had a 3.66 ERA in 19.2 innings. In triple A, he went 3-1 in 27 games, making five starts. He had a 1.94 ERA in 55.2 innings.

He also pitched in the Mexican League this winter, pitching in 18 games with a 2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 9.5 k/9.

2018 Minor League ERA: 2.39
2018 Minor League FIP: double A- 4.18 triple A- 3.55
2018 Minor League K/9: 10.51

ZiPS Projected 2019 ERA: 4.72
ZiPS Projected 2019 FIP: 4.71
ZiPS Projected 2019 k/9: 7.47

Injury Report:
NONE

Brady Feigl- LHP

Brady spent time with in Frisco and Round Rock last season. With double A Frisco, he went 1-0 in 11 games and made two saves. He had a 6.61 k/9 in 16.1 innings pitched. With triple A Round Rock, he went 5-1 in 31 games with two saves. He had a 2.13 ERA in 41.1 innings.

2018 Minor League ERA: 1.53
2018 Minor League FIP: double A- 2.90 triple A- 3.34
2018 Minor League K/9: 5.68

Feigl did not have a 2019 ZiPS projection…

Injury Report:
2015: Missed all of the season due to Tommy John surgery

RETURNING FROM INJURIES

Nick Gardewine- RHP

Gardewine only pitched in three games for the Rangers (March 31, April 1, and May 2 before going back to the minors) last year going 0-0 with a 1.40 WHIP in five innings.

He pitched 12 games with Round Rock, going 2-1 with a 7.30 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 12.1 innings pitched.

On May 17, Gardewine was put on the injured list for a right forearm strain, he spent the rest of the season rehabbing.

2018 Major League ERA: 3.60
2018 Major League FIP: 2.16
2018 Major League K/9: 7.20

ZiPS Projected 2019 ERA: 4.08
ZiPS Projected 2019 FIP: 3.83
ZiPS Projected 2019 k/9: 8.41

Injury Report:
2018: Missed all of season after for a right forearm strain

Matt Bush- RHP

Bush had a partial tear to his ulnar collateral ligament that put his 2018 season to an early end. Instead of Tommy John surgery, Bush had surgery to “repair and reinforce” the ligament in September. While the recovery period isn’t as long as TJ surgery, he’s expected to miss the first half of the season.

Bush had started the 2018 season in Round Rock, he pitched seven innings in six games, going 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA.

He pitched 23 innings (21 games) for the Rangers, allowing 13 runs on 23 hits and 14 walks.

He signed a minor league deal with the Rangers in December after being non-tendered.

2018 Major League ERA: 4.70
2018 Major league FIP: 5.29
2018 Major league K/9: 7.43

ZiPS Projected 2019 ERA: 3.83
ZiPS Projected 2019 FIP: 4.02
ZiPS Projected 2019 k/9: 8.66

Injury Report:
2017: Put on the injured list at the end of August, had surgery to fix AC joint in right shoulder in October
2018: Right elbow strain

Ricardo Rodriguez- RHP

The 26-year-old started last season on the injured list with right bicep tendinitis. He did rehab in Frisco and Round Rock before being recalled by the Rangers on July 5, and then sent back to Round Rock on July 20.

In 25 minor league games, he went 1-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 28.2 innings pitched.

Rodriguez pitched in just four games for the Rangers last season, he gave up three runs on 11 hits and one walk in 6.2 innings.

The Rangers non-tendered him in November before resigning him on a minor league deal in early February. He had shoulder surgery in December and won’t be ready for the start of the season.

2018 Major League ERA: 4.05
2018 Major league FIP: 2.71
2018 Major league K/9: 4.05

ZiPS Projected 2019 ERA: 4.87
ZiPS Projected 2019 FIP: 4.56
ZiPS Projected 2019 k/9: 7.22

Injury Report:
2018: 60-day- Right biceps tendinitis
2019: Will miss the first half of the season