A once-promising season has ended in disappointment for a veteran relief pitcher who had hoped to reignite his career with a fresh start in Oakland. The right-hander, who previously spent his entire big-league career with the Texas Rangers, will now miss the remainder of the 2025 season due to a serious shoulder injury requiring surgery.
After signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Athletics during the offseason, expectations were cautiously optimistic that the veteran could stabilize a bullpen in need of experience. But those plans quickly unraveled. He was placed on the injured list on April 23 with what was initially diagnosed as a right lat strain. Less than a week later, the situation escalated when he was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 30. His attempts to rehab and return fell short, and now, after further evaluations, surgery has been deemed the only option.
The procedure will be performed in Arlington by Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister — a name familiar to the pitcher, who spent over a decade with the organization.
Before the injury, he appeared in just 10 games for the A’s, going 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA. He pitched nine innings, striking out eight and walking five, and failed to convert either of his two save opportunities. It was a far cry from the dominance he showed earlier in his career, when he twice recorded double-digit saves in a season and was once projected as the closer of the future in Texas.
His career trajectory, however, has been riddled with setbacks. After establishing himself in the late 2010s, his ascent was derailed by an elbow injury during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The damage required Tommy John surgery and sidelined him for the entirety of 2021.
He returned in 2022, working his way back into high-leverage roles. By spring 2023, he had again earned the closer role, only to lose it by the end of April. Still, he became a key contributor during the Rangers’ run to the 2023 World Series, offering stability in the middle innings. In 2024, he built further momentum, appearing in 64 games — his highest mark since 2019.
His career stat line speaks to his potential and perseverance: 360 career games (all but three in relief), a 12-21 win-loss record, 3.34 ERA, 41 saves, 481 strikeouts, and 205 walks in 369.1 innings.
Now, with surgery looming and free agency approaching in 2026, the 31-year-old faces another uphill battle. Whether he will return to form after yet another lengthy rehab remains uncertain — but if history has shown anything, it’s that he’s not unfamiliar with adversity.
For now, though, what was meant to be a chapter of redemption has instead become another test of resilience.
