Three outliers that will accelerate the Texas Rangers timeline
By Travis Koch
Jonathan Hernandez, Rafael Montero, Jose Leclerc
The Texas Rangers have a new setup man and closer this season. Right-handed pitcher Jonathan Hernandez has taken on the majority of eighth-inning work. The 24-year-old rookie has a 2.91 ERA over 21.2 innings pitched. He’s averaging 9.6 K/9, and his walk rate has dropped 70% from a nine-appearance stint with the team a year ago.
Hernandez’s fastball averages 98 mph and his slider 89 mph. He leans on those pitches 91% of the time, and his changeup the other 9%.
Texas prepped him as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues, but used him as a reliever in seven of his nine appearances in 2019. His dominance in the setup role this season has likely set the expectation for future seasons.
Rafael Montero has solidified Texas Rangers’ victories as the club’s closer for most of the season. His effectiveness out of the bullpen has far exceeded the minor league contract that the Rangers signed him to during the 2018 offseason.
Over 10.2 innings pitched, Montero has a 2.53 ERA and a 0.750 WHIP. He’s converted all seven save opportunities and is striking out over a batter an inning.
He flaunts electric stuff, including a fastball that averages 95.1 mph with consistent tail and a changeup that falls off the table. He pitches similarly to Jose Leclerc, who assumed closer duties for the Rangers before a right shoulder injury forced him to the sidelines this year.
Leclerc and Montero share an appetency for the power changeup. They also manage the strike zone similarly and heave the ball at similar velocities. Naturally, you wonder how each pitcher will be handled when healthy at the same time.
The Rangers have Leclerc under contract through 2024, while Montero is arbitration-eligible through 2022, and Hernandez is still in the pre-arbitration phase of his contract.
If the trio refrains from the injured list, then the Texas Rangers are looking at a lights out backend of the bullpen for the foreseeable future. And don’t forget that triple-digit hurler, Demarcus Evans, is waiting for his turn to shine with the major league club. He’ll want to join the party.