A Familiar Left Arm is Heading to Texas, But What Does it Mean for the Rangers? The Texas Rangers have brought in a seasoned lefty, Austin Gomber, on a minor league contract, complete with a coveted invitation to major league spring training. This move, announced on Thursday, signals a potential new chapter for the veteran pitcher.
But here's where it gets interesting: Gomber's recent history hasn't been the smoothest. Last season, he was sidelined for the first two and a half months due to left shoulder soreness that flared up during spring training. Upon his return in mid-June, his performance on the mound for the Colorado Rockies was a tough watch, going 0-7 with a rather high 7.49 ERA across 12 starts before his release in late August. For those keeping score, the 32-year-old southpaw boasts a career record of 35-47 with a 5.08 ERA over 168 games (124 starts) spanning seven major league seasons, with stints in St. Louis and the last five years with the Rockies.
And this is the part most people miss: Gomber was actually a key piece in the significant six-player trade that sent star third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals before the 2021 spring training. He was originally a fourth-round draft pick by St. Louis out of Florida Atlantic back in 2014. This past season, the Rangers also extended spring training invitations to nine players from their own system, notably their highly-touted prospect, 19-year-old infielder Sebastian Walcott. Walcott, who will be attending his second consecutive big league spring training as a non-roster invitee, showed promise in Double-A Frisco last year, hitting .255 with 13 home runs, 59 RBIs, a solid 70 walks, and an impressive 32 stolen bases in 124 games.
For baseball enthusiasts, mark your calendars! The Rangers' pitchers and catchers are set to have their first workout on February 10th in Surprise, Arizona, with the full squad reporting for duty on February 15th.
Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room. Is Gomber's signing a low-risk, high-reward gamble for the Rangers, or a sign of deeper concerns about their pitching depth? What are your thoughts on this move? Do you think Gomber can recapture his past form, or is this more of a depth signing? Let us know in the comments below – we'd love to hear your take!
