Rangers Reliever Josh Sborz Still Has Work to Do Before Major League Return
Texas Rangers right-handed reliever Josh Sborz isn’t quite ready to make his return to the big leagues as he continues to rehab from offseason shoulder surgery.
Though Sborz has now made two appearances on his rehab assignment, manager Bruce Bochy says it’s not enough yet to signal a comeback. Bochy mentioned on Friday that he still needs to discuss Sborz’s latest outing with the training staff but made it clear that more steps remain in his recovery.
“We’d like to get him through some up-and-downs, maybe even stretch him out for multiple innings,” Bochy said. “There are still boxes to check before we bring him back.”
Sborz’s rehab stint shifted to Double-A Frisco on Friday after beginning with Triple-A Round Rock. In his latest outing for the Frisco RoughRiders, he pitched one inning, giving up one run on one hit, walking two and striking out one. His first outing on July 12 with Round Rock was brief—just 0.2 innings—where he allowed two hits and one walk, though he did manage a strikeout.
Out since the start of the season following surgery on his right shoulder, Sborz previously shared that rebuilding trust in his arm has been part of the journey. “You deal with it for a year and a half and it kind of sticks with you,” he admitted, noting that he has to mentally move on from the injury.
Despite the setbacks, there are encouraging signs. Prior to his rehab outings, his fastball was already topping 90 mph, and his curveball had the shape he wanted. While his slider velocity lagged slightly, he believed it would return with time.
Sborz was a key contributor during the Rangers’ 2023 World Series run, famously closing out Game 5. Last season, he posted a 3.86 ERA over 17 appearances, with 17 strikeouts and just four walks in 16.1 innings. Acquired from the Dodgers in 2021, the veteran reliever has appeared in 154 career games, compiling a 13-13 record, 4.96 ERA, and 193 strikeouts in 163.1 innings.
Until he shows he’s fully ready, though, his return to the Rangers’ bullpen will have to wait.
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