Texas Rangers get big boost by signing Tyson Ross
The Texas Rangers signed right-handed pitcher Ross to a one-year deal Friday and he just might be this season’s Ian Desmond.
Newly-signed Texas Rangers pitcher Tyson Ross did almost nothing in 2016. Thanks to a recurring case of shoulder inflammation, he played only one game last season where he pitched 5 1/3 innings and surrendered eight runs (of which seven were earned). But don’t judge him by what didn’t happen last year. Instead, let’s take a look at what happened before then.
The early years
He made his MLB debut in 2010 and pitched mostly in relief for the Oakland Athletics. He didn’t do much. Sure, he played for an AL West rival to the Rangers, yet he’s likely not too well remembered for that.
He got a few opportunities as a starter, especially in 2012. He had a rough go of it that season, finished 2-11 with a 6.50 earned run average and a 4.80 FIP. Hitters averaged 11.8 hits per nine innings against him and knocked him around to the tune of a .327 batting average and a .407 on-base percentage.
Keep in mind, this all happened in the pitchers’ paradise known as Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Hence, the A’s sent him away to the San Diego Padres for what amounted to a bag of sunflower seeds and a couple of fungo bats. That’s when things changed for Ross.
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The move to San Diego
The first season for Ross in San Diego was a turning point. There he was introduced to pitching coach Darren Balsley. From the get-go, Balsley changed the way Ross viewed the game, completely to the point that he went on record to say, “I’ve said it before, but that trade was the best thing to ever happen to me.”
In 35 appearances, Ross saw an immediate improvement in his game. Some scouts say it has to do with his use of an absolutely filthy slider. But whatever the reason, his strikeouts per nine innings jumped from 5.6 in 2012 to 8.6 in 2013 and his opponents’ batting average dropped to .225 with an on-base percentage of .301. He pitched so well that they took him from bullpen to the starting rotation in July of that season and he never looked back.
His 3.16 ERA and 3.13 FIP during his time with the Padres is nothing short of dominant. He struck out 531 hitters in 522 innings in San Diego. The guy can flat-out deal when he’s healthy.
The expectations in Texas
The Rangers are not taking that big of a gamble on Ross. He’s a power pitcher that maxed around 95 MPH on his four-seamer before being diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome last season. He offers the aforementioned four-seam fastball, his nasty slider, a changeup and a cut fastball. He misses bats and he did not give up many longballs with the Padres.
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Texas will likely offer a rise in his home run numbers, but the fact that he strikes out a lot of hitters will be a blessing at Globe Life Park. If all goes well, he’ll easily be the number three guy in the rotation and could be a consistent performer for the Rangers.