Church back 'in the mix' for Rangers' bullpen as homegrown option

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Much has been made about the Rangers¡¯ completely rebuilt bullpen this spring. Texas added veteran arms like Chris Martin and Luke Jackson, as well as other experienced relievers such as Shawn Armstrong, Jacob Webb and Hoby Milner.

But one of the most intriguing options for the Rangers¡¯ bullpen is a potential homegrown closer in the making.

Marc Church, the Rangers¡¯ No. 23 prospect, was selected by the club in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He was a shortstop for the first three years of high school before picking up pitching during his senior year due to a bet with a friend. He¡¯s now developed into a quality reliever at the Minor League level who could be a major contributor in the big leagues in 2025.

Church has a solid three-pitch mix of a four-seamer, slider and splitter, and he will only get better as he continues to maintain his command and control.

¡°[Church] attacks the zone,¡± manager Bruce Bochy said. ¡°A lot of young guys, they pitch away from contact or they're showing the nerves out there by not being able to throw strikes. He attacks the zone and is pitching with confidence. He thinks he belongs out there. He thinks they can get the hitter out, and he has the stuff to do it. Sometimes you gotta break that barrier. But that barrier was never there for him this spring.¡±

Bochy said Church was ¡°in the mix¡± to break camp with Texas last spring when he first emerged as a legitimate bullpen option. But based on his experience at the time, the coaching staff thought it was best for him to go down to Triple-A Round Rock and get more innings.

Church ultimately missed much of the 2024 season due to a right lat strain, and he pitched just 25 2/3 innings in the Minors. But, he made his MLB debut with a scoreless inning against the Angels on Sept. 28.

But now?

¡°Marc is in the mix,¡± Bochy said. ¡°At his age, where he's at in his career ... we don't select the club at this point in the spring, but Church is a guy that has a little bit more experience, and so he¡¯s right there in the mix.¡±

Leiter¡¯s Cactus League train rolls on

Jack Leiter, the Rangers¡¯ No. 3 prospect, threw three scoreless innings against the Padres at Surprise Stadium on Thursday. In Texas' 8-2 victory, he threw all five of his pitches, including a new sinker and a reworked changeup. Leiter has allowed just two runs in eight innings this spring.

The right-hander made his MLB debut last season, but he had some ups and downs, allowing 39 runs (35 earned) in 35 2/3 innings. Bochy said earlier in camp that Leiter came in ¡°like a man on a mission,¡± and he¡¯s continued to show it during Cactus League play.

¡°I think he has that conviction that you need on every pitch,¡± Bochy said postgame on Thursday. ¡°Not that there was doubt in there, but it can always creep in there with young players sometimes, especially when you're not having success. You don't see that with him now. He really believes in his stuff and his pitches now, and that's a big part of it.¡±

Garcia¡¯s neat Cactus League debut

Robert Garcia, one of the Rangers¡¯ main pieces of the closer competition, made his Cactus League debut on Thursday against the Padres after he was delayed at the start of camp due to nerve irritation in his left forearm.

Garcia tossed a scoreless inning with a walk and a strikeout.

Bochy has said that Garcia is one of the main arms in the mix for the closer role among a fully rebuilt bullpen. Despite his injury delay, the left-hander has been clear in his desire to be right in the middle of the competition.

¡°Obviously, it's a great opportunity,¡± Garcia said of the competition in camp. ¡°I don't take that lightly. I see myself as a closer at some point in my career, and there's no better time than now."