Currently, there’s an intriguing six-man group poised to play significant roles for the Texas Rangers this year.
Leading the pack are the prominent duo of Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom, followed by Jon Gray, Tyler Mahle, and top prospects Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker. Cory Bradford might also be utilized, giving the Rangers a total of seven pitchers they can rely on as needed.
Ideally, they won’t have to resort to that many, and Texas would be able to field their ideal five-man rotation led by Eovaldi, deGrom, Gray, Mahle, and one of the other three mentioned.
This would provide them with one of the top starting rotations in baseball.
However, injuries have been a concern for several of the Rangers’ pitchers, and it’s uncertain if they will avoid that fate again.
Depth is crucial for all teams, particularly for Texas.
One player who was initially expected to compete for a spot is Owen White, the former second-round pick in the 2018 draft. He made strides through the minor leagues and was regarded as their third-best prospect in 2023 before making his Major League debut.
After a strong performance in the minors, he had difficulties in the big leagues, giving up five earned runs in four innings over two appearances in 2023, and then eight earned runs in just three innings across three outings last season.
These struggles likely contributed to the Rangers designating him for assignment after acquiring Hoby Milner this winter. Following his DFA, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for cash considerations.
Now, White has found a new home.
According to an announcement from the New York Yankees, they have claimed the 25-year-old off waivers from the Reds, adding him to their 40-man roster.
This could be a difficult loss for Texas.
While White didn’t showcase much during his time in the majors, he was an impressive pitching prospect on the rise and still has the potential to develop into a solid arm in the future.
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