The Texas Rangers made several additions to their pitching staff during the winter, making it easy for fans to forget about Cole Ragans. If someone listed pitchers for the Rangers, Ragans would likely be somewhere between the 10th to 15th player mentioned. However, Ragans is determined to change that narrative and show that he can play a crucial role on the team.
Cole Ragans has been plagued with injuries
Ragans is a former first-round pick who drew comparisons to Cole Hamels, who pitched for the Rangers at that time. He is a left-handed starting pitcher who can locate his pitches on both sides of the plate and has had success when he has been healthy. Unfortunately, his health has been a setback, as he had to undergo two Tommy John surgeries in 2018 and 2019.
After the pandemic disrupted the 2020 minor league season, Ragans didn’t return to live action until May 2021. He worked his way up the minor league ladder throughout 2021 and into 2022 before being promoted to Round Rock in June. He made eight starts and finished the season with three solid starts in the majors. However, his lack of strikeouts limited his performance due to his fastball, which averaged 92.1 mph.
Ragans dominate in 2023 Spring Training
Heading into the 2023 season, Cole Ragans has looked dominant in his two Spring appearances. His increased velocity and confidence in pitching up in the zone have made his curveball even harder to hit. His off-season work, including mobility exercises and gaining 10-12 pounds of good weight, has paid off, and it shows in his performance.
The Rangers have several options for Ragans. He could slot in as a middle reliever or be paired with Jake Odorizzi as a long-reliever. How manager Bruce Bochy deploys Ragans will tell us a lot about his role on the team. With the team trying to win, Cole Ragans in the bullpen might serve the team better than keeping him at Round Rock in case they need a starting pitcher. If Ragans continues to pitch well, he will no longer be the forgotten man. He will become known as the man who pitches in the bullpen for the Texas Rangers.
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