#25 The Texas Rangers: Top 3 Pitchers Drafted Since 2013
The Texas Rangers Baseball Club secured the World Series title in 2023, building a strong foundation of leadership under Chris Young and Bruce Bochy. However, the 2024 season was a down year, as expected, with key pitchers Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer missing significant time due to injuries in both 2023 and 2024.
Their absence opened the door for prospects like Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker, and Owen White to step into the spotlight. While this gave new arms a chance to prove themselves, a closer look at the data reveals concerning trends. In this case study, 10 pitchers reached the majors, but over 50% suffered arm injuries along the way, and none have yet emerged as consistent top-three starters in the MLB rotation.
Injury Rate: 51%
Out of the pitchers included in this study, 51% faced an arm injury or surgery at some point in their development. This translates to 19 total injuries and 10 surgeries, with an average time to surgery occurring after 205 innings pitched.
Notably, earlier draftees such as Chi Chi Gonzalez (2013) and Brett Martin (2014) managed to reach the majors, each averaging 662 innings before undergoing surgery. However, between 2016 and 2020, 12 of the 14 pitchers drafted during this time suffered arm injuries, and 8 of those required surgery. The average time to surgery during this period plummeted to just 73 innings.
This sharp increase in injuries coincided with the Rangers’ implementation of a progressive throwing program designed for their top pitching prospects. While the intent was to improve performance, the results suggest the program may have contributed to a higher injury rate.
MLB Pitchers Developed: 10
The Rangers have produced 10 MLB pitchers from their farm system during this period, combining for 639 total innings pitched in the major leagues. The most innings were contributed by Brett Martin (189 innings) and Cole Ragans (136 innings), both of whom are no longer with the organization.
Among active Rangers pitchers, Cody Bradford (132 IP), Jack Leiter (35 IP), and Owen White (7 IP) have shown potential to add more value moving forward. Kumar Rocker, despite his injury setbacks, has logged 11 innings, though this was after the final data was collected.
Cost Efficiency – $/MLB Inning Pitched: $68,735
When considering the Rangers’ total investment in signing bonuses for their pitching prospects, the cost per MLB inning pitched comes out to roughly $68,735. This places the Rangers 28th in Major League Baseball in terms of return on investment for developing pitchers.
Despite the organization's struggles to develop a consistent homegrown starter, the future remains promising. Prospects like Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker, and Brock Porter could emerge as key contributors, potentially changing the trajectory of the Rangers' pitching development.
Looking Ahead
While the past few years have posed challenges, particularly in terms of injuries, the Texas Rangers’ pipeline still holds untapped potential. The rise of their young arms could shift the narrative, especially if they can stay healthy and develop into consistent MLB starters. The next few seasons will be crucial for determining whether the organization can turn their pitching prospects into long-term success stories.
