Texas Rangers fans react as pitcher Jake Odorizzi to miss 2023 after shoulder surgery: "Our sacrifice to the pitching god" "There’s that Rangers luck"
The Texas Rangers will be without starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi this season after the right-hander underwent shoulder debridement surgery.
Odorizzi, acquired from the Atlanta Braves in November in a trade for pitcher Kolby Allard, was not being counted on for much more than depth this season as the Rangers' top five slots in the rotation are filled.
The 33-year-old hurler may never appear in a Texas Rangers uniform as he is only signed through this season in the final year of a three-year, $29.5 million contract he signed with the Houston Astros before the 2021 campaign.
Jake Odorizzi will miss season after undergoing arthroscopic procedure on shoulder
Rangers manager Chris Young told ESPN:
"As we sit today, it's a blow. But we knew we'd go through something like this. ... We were counting on him to provide meaningful innings this season. We're not going to get that, but this is an opportunity for others to step up and take those innings."
Texas fans took the news with a sigh and a shrug.
@Evan_P_Grant Our sacrifice to the pitching god.
@Evan_P_Grant There's that Rangers Luck™
@Evan_P_Grant Uh…well SHIT.
Most Texas Rangers fans were more annoyed about the money the team is on the hook for after picking up a depth arm that won't provide any depth. Odorizzi was one of four starting pitchers the Rangers acquired last offseason, joining Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney.
@Evan_P_Grant Sucks that the Rangers are out $2.5 Million for a guy that won’t throw a pitch for them. I guess that’s like beer money to them though 🤷🏻♂️
Yet another player that miraculously had a pre-existing injury the club knew nothing about, but had no problem taking their money. Want a free payday? Go to the Rangers.
@Evan_P_Grant How much is he being paid by the rangers this year?
Young acknowledged that while losing Odorizzi is not ideal, the Texas Rangers have far more depth in their pitching ranks than previous years. He told ESPN:
"The beauty of our staff right now is we do have pretty good depth. Our hope is more depth develops in the minor league system this year."
@Evan_P_Grant Always need a minimum of 7-9 starters a year. Geez.
This is exactly why the Rangers brought in so many pitchers this off season. Depth is key. twitter.com/Evan_P_Grant/s…
@Evan_P_Grant Dang that sucks. Given the possible health issues with the rotation, Odorizzi was an important piece. We still have Dunning, Ragans, and Hearn that can fill a similar role, though.
Young empathized with Odorizzi's plight, having gone through similar injury woes, telling ESPN:
"Having gone through shoulder injuries in my career, there's no rhyme or reason to when it hurt or what causes it. I think it's more a chronic injury (with Odorizzi) than an acute injury, and for whatever reason, this offseason is when it took a turn for the worse."
Down goes the Rangers' #8 starter.... twitter.com/Evan_P_Grant/s…
Texas Rangers starting staff still in good shape
Odorizzi did not figure into the Rangers' rotation at this point, so his loss is minimally felt unless the team loses another arm out of its starting five. Currently, deGrom is the staff ace, followed by Eovaldi, Martin Perez, Jon Gray and Heaney. The bullpen, led by co-closers Jose Leclerc and Will Smith, as well as former MLB closer Ian Kennedy also remains solid.