Introduction to the Rangers Bullpen
The Rangers bullpen is the final piece of the puzzle in our series of report cards on different elements of the Rangers roster. The bullpen is responsible for finishing games and securing wins for the team. In this article, we will take a closer look at the performance of the Rangers bullpen in 2025.
Primary Cast
The primary cast of the Rangers bullpen includes Hoby Milner, Shawn Armstrong, Robert Garcia, Jacob Webb, Chris Martin, Luke Jackson, Jacob Latz, Cole Winn, Caleb Boushley, and Phil Maton. These players made a minimum of 20 appearances for the team in 2025.
What Went Right
Despite not having any stars in the bullpen, the Rangers got decent performance from their relievers. The team spent around $15 million to overhaul their entire bullpen, and it worked out pretty well. Led by Armstrong, who dominated right-handed hitters, the bullpen posted a 3.62 ERA, which ranked fifth in baseball. The relievers also held opponents to a .306 OBP, which ranked fourth best among bullpens, and a .681 OPS, which ranked sixth. Additionally, they cleaned up messes pretty well, allowing only 28% of inherited runners to score, which ranked among the 10 best in baseball.
What Went Wrong
However, the bullpen also had its share of problems. Without a lot of guys with firm track records and no established closer, Bruce Bochy often had to shuffle guys around looking for the hot hand. This instability, combined with an offense that simply shut down late in games and no overpowering arm, led to the bullpen being charged with 37 losses and 29 blown saves. The Rangers ranked among the bottom five in the league in both categories. In addition, they had the sixth-lowest save percentage. The team lacked both a power arm to close out games and a high strikeout pitcher.
What Needs Answering
The Rangers now face the challenge of rebuilding their bullpen all over again. Milner, Armstrong, and Martin are all free agents, as are trade acquisitions Danny Coulumbe and Maton. With these players leaving, the Rangers have only nine saves from 2025 returning for 2026. One spot where they might get help is via the growth of Winn, who added a cutter and became a dominant force against right-handed hitters. If he can develop something to better combat lefties, he could become a valuable late-innings leverage option.
Key Statistics
One number that stands out is 8 — the number of runners caught stealing of the 57 who ran with relievers on the mound. This was the fourth-lowest caught-stealing number by a bullpen in the majors. While the relievers did a good job of keeping runners off the bases, too many that reached got an extra base. If the Rangers don’t add some high strikeout pitchers, holding runners in close games must become a higher priority for the club.
Prospects
The Rangers have some promising prospects in the pipeline. Marc Church, who made the opening day roster, has the velocity to be a back-end-of-the-bullpen arm. However, he needs to stay healthy and harness his fastball better to be trusted in higher leverage opportunities. Emiliano Teodo, who also has a turbo arm, moved to the bullpen in 2025 but missed two months with an injury. After he returned, he had an unacceptable nearly 1:1 rate of walks to strikeouts in 11⅔ innings.
Summary
In summary, the Rangers bullpen was credible, but it lacked definitive answers at the end of the game. The team had three different pitchers tie for the team lead in saves: Armstrong, Jackson, and Garcia. They all had nine saves, which was the first time since 1982 that the Rangers didn’t have a reliever reach double digits in saves in a 162-game season.
Grade
The grade for the Rangers bullpen is B. For their money, the Rangers got a lot of value. However, they didn’t spend a lot of money, and it was a solid ensemble of relievers who bonded well and were better as a unit than the sum of their parts. The lack of a lockdown closer probably cost them some precious games. Now, the Rangers have to rebuild all over again, and probably on the cheap.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Rangers bullpen had its ups and downs in 2025. While they got decent performance from their relievers, they lacked a power arm and a high strikeout pitcher. The team now faces the challenge of rebuilding their bullpen all over again, and it will be interesting to see how they approach this task.
FAQs
Q: Who were the primary cast members of the Rangers bullpen in 2025?
A: The primary cast members of the Rangers bullpen in 2025 included Hoby Milner, Shawn Armstrong, Robert Garcia, Jacob Webb, Chris Martin, Luke Jackson, Jacob Latz, Cole Winn, Caleb Boushley, and Phil Maton.
Q: What was the ERA of the Rangers bullpen in 2025?
A: The ERA of the Rangers bullpen in 2025 was 3.62, which ranked fifth in baseball.
Q: How many saves did the Rangers have in 2025?
A: The Rangers had 37 losses and 29 blown saves in 2025, and they ranked among the bottom five in the league in both categories.
Q: Who are the promising prospects in the Rangers pipeline?
A: The Rangers have promising prospects like Marc Church and Emiliano Teodo, who have the potential to become valuable assets to the team in the future.
Q: What is the grade for the Rangers bullpen in 2025?
A: The grade for the Rangers bullpen in 2025 is B, as they got a lot of value for their money, but lacked a lockdown closer and a power arm.
