The Texas Rangers’ pitching staff suffered a significant setback on Friday when starter Jon Gray fractured his right wrist during a Cactus League game against the Colorado Rockies. The injury happened after Gray was hit by a 106.4 mph line drive off the bat of Michael Toglia. Manager Bruce Bochy didn’t hold back when addressing the situation.
“It’s not good news, not good news,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. “It’s terrible. I feel awful for him, being this close to the start of the season. It’s just not good news. I’ll get back in there and find out more, but right now, there is a fracture,” he said via Evan Grant on X, formerly Twitter.
Gray, entering the final year of his four-year, $56 million contract, has dealt with injuries throughout his tenure in Texas. In 2024, he was limited to just 102 2/3 innings due to two groin strains and a foot neuroma that required offseason surgery. Now, with Opening Day less than two weeks away, he is expected to begin the season on the injured list, forcing the Rangers to rethink their rotation plans.
Gray’s injury comes at a particularly tough time for Texas, adding to growing concerns about the starting rotation. Earlier this week, Cody Bradford was scratched from a spring start due to elbow soreness. Although his MRI revealed no structural damage, the team announced he will be shut down for up to 10 days and won’t be ready for Opening Day.
Meanwhile, Tyler Mahle was also scratched from a scheduled start against the Angels due to forearm soreness. Like Bradford, his MRI showed no structural issues, but the Rangers are proceeding with caution. Mahle is expected to resume throwing soon, though his availability for Opening Day remains uncertain.
With these setbacks, the Rangers will likely rely on a combination of young talent and veteran depth to fill the gaps in their rotation. Former first-round picks Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker are expected to start the season in the rotation after impressing in camp, potentially stepping into key roles earlier than anticipated.
Veteran right-hander Adrian Houser, in camp on a minor league deal, is another option. He has posted a 2.25 ERA over eight innings this spring and could provide much-needed stability. Patrick Murphy, a non-roster invitee, is also being considered for a bulk-innings role.
As things stand, the Rangers’ early-season rotation will likely feature Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom, Leiter, Rocker, and either Tyler Mahle or Houser. While Eovaldi and deGrom bring veteran experience, both have a history of injuries. deGrom has made just 35 starts over the past four seasons, and Eovaldi has undergone Tommy John surgery twice in his career, adding another layer of uncertainty to the rotation.
For most of Spring Training, the Rangers managed to avoid major injuries to their pitching staff, but the past week has dramatically shifted the outlook. With Gray sidelined indefinitely, Bradford and Mahle dealing with their own setbacks, and both deGrom and Eovaldi carrying durability concerns, Texas’ rotation now appears far more fragile than it did just days ago.
