It’s been a tough spring if you’re a Texas Rangers starting pitcher.
The latest blow came Friday, when Jon Gray took a line drive off his right wrist resulting in a fracture.
Texas is already dealing with forearm soreness to Tyler Mahle, elbow discomfort for Cody Bradford and a hopefully less lasting one, a stomach virus to Jacob deGrom.
The issues likely leave Rangers manager Bruce Bochy and the front office with a difficult choice — let the youngsters play, or rely on uninspiring veterans.
Texas fans surely want to see the kids, if they’re ready. The Rangers have two former Vanderbilt first-round picks, Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter.
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Rocker has been rocked this spring, though, with a 22.85 ERA in ‘A’ games, according to The Dallas Morning News’ Evan Grant. Leiter does have a 2.53 ERA this spring, but walked five guys in his last start.
“They should earn the opportunity,” general manager Chris Young told Grant. “… I think there is a big difference mentally for a player that earns it versus one that has been given an opportunity.”
The Rangers’ other options available in camp are non-roster invitees Adrian Houser, Patrick Murphy and Caleb Boushley. Houser has made more than 100 big-league starts, but the others are even more unproven than Rocker and Leiter.
The top free-agent pitchers available are Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn, but the Rangers are teetering on the verge of the luxury tax and likely wouldn’t sign them.
It could be a lot of work early in the season for the Rangers’ bullpen, and they’ll likely just have to hope that the youngsters have what it takes.
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