Injury Timelines Pressure Texas Rangers Roster
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With Jack Leiter unlikely to return as a starter and others in rehab, Texas faces a critical personnel crunch.
The Texas Rangers are navigating a complex injury landscape that threatens their rotation and infield depth, as Sports Illustrated first reported. According to the outlet, starting pitcher Jack Leiter is unlikely to return to the rotation this season after being shut down from ankle surgery rehab due to a biceps issue. Sports Illustrated notes that per MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry, Leiter is moving to the team's facility in Surprise, Arizona, to continue rehab, and that a transition to the bullpen remains a possibility.
While Leiter's status is precarious, other key players are nearing a return. Sports Illustrated reports that third baseman Josh Jung, who has been sidelined since July 25 with a left calf injury, ran the bases on Saturday. Citing Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News, the outlet reports that if Jung avoids a setback, his next steps include live batting practice and a rehab assignment, potentially allowing him to rejoin the lineup next week. In Jung's absence, the Rangers have relied primarily on Cody Freeman and Ezequiel Duran.
On the mound, Nathan Eovaldi is recovering from right posterior elbow inflammation. Sports Illustrated reports that Eovaldi threw a 40-pitch bullpen on Saturday, consisting of two 20-pitch segments. Citing McFarland, the outlet reports that Eovaldi's next progression could be live batting practice as early as Monday, provided he recovers well. If he follows his September 2023 injury recovery path, Eovaldi may need to build up at the Major League level to assist in a playoff push.