STARTING FROM Winter additions have provided the Rangers with a deep rotation By T.R. Sullivan Mlb.com
The Texas Rangers biggest off-season acquisition this winter was a 33-year-old right-handed pitcher who pitched in just seven games last season, won two of them and had a 5.80 ERA. The Rangers expect that pitcher to be at the front of what is projected to be one of the team’s deepest starting rotations in many years. They just need two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber to be fully recovered from a fractured right forearm that ended his 2019 season when he was hit by Miami outfielder Brian Anderson’s line drive on May 1. How Kluber responds to that injury is high on the Rangers agenda this spring during their time in Arizona. But it is also why the Rangers feel as good as they have in a long time about
18
their rotation going into Spring Training. “I know what he has done in the past,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “Clearly a No. 1 starter. Two-time Cy Young winner. Talking to him and seeing how he has responded, we are not too concerned about what happened last year. That has healed up. He works his tail off. His work ethic is legendary. We fully believe he can get back to somewhat of what he used to be. If he is anywhere close to what he used to be, he is absolutely an ace.” Kluber joins left-hander Mike Minor and right-hander Lance Lynn at the top of the Rangers rotation. Minor and Lynn were one of the best 1-2 starting combinations in the Major Leagues last season.
The Rangers acquired two-time A.L. Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber in December. SU R PR ISE S TA D I U M .COM
