Jose Leclerc’s Season Ends Early with Shoulder Surgery, Marking Another Tough Blow in His Comeback Journey
Jose Leclerc, once a key bullpen arm for the Texas Rangers, will miss the rest of the 2025 MLB season due to an upcoming shoulder surgery, according to a report by Martin Gallegos of MLB.com.
After signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Oakland Athletics in the offseason, Leclerc hoped to revive his career following a solid 2024 campaign. However, his stint with Oakland was derailed early on by a right lat strain, which landed him on the 15-day injured list in late April before being shifted to the 60-day IL just a week later. That injury has now progressed to the point that surgery is required.
The surgery will be performed in Arlington by Dr. Keith Meister, the Texas Rangers’ team physician.
Leclerc only managed 10 appearances for the A’s this season, posting a 6.00 ERA with 8 strikeouts and 5 walks over 9 innings. He recorded one hold but blew both save opportunities, finishing with an 0-1 record.
Originally signed by the Rangers out of the Dominican Republic in 2010, Leclerc made his MLB debut in 2016 and was once considered a potential long-term closer. He had 12 saves in 2018 and 14 in 2019 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020, which cost him the entire 2021 season.
Leclerc returned to the Rangers in 2022 and won the closer job entering 2023, though he didn’t hold it for long. Still, he contributed as a reliable setup man during the team’s World Series run that year and remained in a high-leverage role in 2024, making 64 appearances—his busiest season since 2019.
Now facing free agency in 2026, the 30-year-old right-hander owns a career 3.34 ERA across 360 games, with 41 saves, 481 strikeouts, and 205 walks in 369.1 innings pitched—almost entirely in relief.
What was supposed to be a fresh start in Oakland has unfortunately turned into another chapter of injury frustration for the veteran reliever.
