The Texas Rangers face a test of their starting pitching to begin the 2025 Major League Baseball season. At the same time, adversity could present an opportunity for the organization’s young pitchers to establish themselves.
Jon Gray suffered a fractured right wrist on Friday when he was hit by a comebacker from Colorado Rockies first baseman Michael Toglia. The play happened in the fourth inning, and Gray left the game.
“Not good news, not good news,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said afterward. “It’s terrible. I feel awful for him, to be this close to getting the season going. It’s just not good news. I’ll get back in there and find out more, but right now, there is a fracture.”
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Jon Gray left the game with a trainer back in Surprise after getting hit with this 106.4 mph comebacker off the bat of Michael Toglia pic.twitter.com/HTk6lqEJGh
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) March 15, 2025
Gray, 33, is entering his fourth season with Texas and the final year of a four-year, $56 million contract. The previous three years, he compiled a 4.16 ERA and a 21-21 record with 362 strikeouts in 387 1/3 innings. He’s projected to be the Rangers’ No. 3 starter.
Gray pitched his first seven MLB seasons with the Rockies, compiling a 4.59 ERA with 849 Ks in 829 1/3 innings. He was Colorado’s 2013 first-round draft pick out of Oklahoma.
Gray’s injury leaves the Rangers’ rotation further shorthanded, potentially. Cody Bradford was scratched from his start Wednesday due to elbow soreness, and Bochy confirmed that the left-hander would not be ready for Opening Day. Bradford will be shut down for up to 10 days until the soreness alleviates.
Additionally, Tyler Mahle missed his start Tuesday due to forearm soreness. However, the news appears to be better there, as an MRI exam showed no structural damage. Mahle, who had Tommy John surgery in May 2023, pitched in a minor-league game Thursday. There’s no word yet on his status for the regular season.
With three starters potentially sidelined, rookies Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker could end up in the Rangers’ Opening Day rotation. The pair were teammates at Vanderbilt University and came into the majors with a lot of potential.
Leiter, Texas’ 2021 first-round pick, has pitched well this spring, striking out 13 batters in 10 2/3 innings with a 2.53 ERA. Rocker, a 2022 first-rounder, has been less successful, allowing 11 runs and 12 hits in 4 1/3 innings. Still, injuries could open a spot for him early this season.
The Rangers will also have two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom back after he returned from Tommy John surgery late last season. In three starts, he struck out 14 batters in 10 1/3 innings. This spring, he has thrown three scoreless frames in a minor-league game and two scoreless innings with three Ks in a Cactus League appearance.