Sborz threw a scoreless ninth inning in Thursday's 4-3 loss to Seattle.
Sborz, who was activated off the injured list Thursday, retired the side in order, needing just nine pitches. He was placed on the IL due to a shoulder injury April 7 after just three appearances. The back end of the bullpen has changed since then -- Kirby Yates replaced Jose Leclerc as the closer -- but Sborz should remain part of the setup group.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Returns from IL
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The Rangers activated Sborz (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Sborz made one rehab appearance with Double-A Frisco on Tuesday, and that was enough to convince the Rangers he was ready to go. The reliever had three scoreless outings for the Rangers earlier this month before going down with a rotator cuff strain. Sborz should regain his high-leverage relief role immediately.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Beginning rehab assignment
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The Rangers assigned Sborz (shoulder) to Double-A Frisco on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.
The right-hander has been on the shelf with a rotator cuff strain since April 7, and he shouldn't require a lengthy rehab assignment since it's been a relatively brief absence. Sborz made three appearances prior to the injury and struck out three without allowing a run over 2.2 innings.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Close to return
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Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that Sborz (shoulder) threw a bullpen session earlier this week and could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list when he's first eligible for activation Monday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. "He's doing well," Bochy said. "Sborz is on his way...talking to him, he feels great, his pain is down."
Sborz was placed on the IL on April 7 with a right rotator cuff strain, but his injury doesn't appear to be an overly significant one. Bochy didn't explicitly outline the next steps for Sborz, but if the righty is able to face hitters in a live batting practice session this weekend, he may be able to return from the IL without heading out on a rehab assignment. Prior to being shut down with the injury, Sborz tossed 2.2 scoreless innings across his three relief appearances. He should be a key part of the bridge to the ninth inning once he's activated.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Placed on 15-day IL
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Sborz (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Rangers on Sunday.
Sborz is dealing with a right rotator cuff strain, and he'll now be forced to miss at least a couple weeks of action. Considering the injury to his throwing arm, the 30-year-old could be set for an extended absence. Texas called up right-hander Grant Anderson from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move to operate as a replacement for Sborz in the major-league bullpen.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Nursing shoulder issue
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Sborz was pulled from Saturday's outing against the Astros due to right shoulder soreness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Sborz "probably could have kept going," but the reliever will have imaging done on the shoulder just to be safe. Sborz was credited with a hold Saturday and has made three scoreless appearances this season. It would be a big blow to the Rangers' bullpen if he needs to miss time.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Exits appearance with injury
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Sborz was removed from Saturday's appearance versus the Astros with an undisclosed injury, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
Sborz retired the first two batters of the eighth inning and got two strikes on Jose Abreu before being visited by the trainer and eventually walking off the field. It's not clear exactly what might have happened, but the Rangers should offer clarity soon enough.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Returns to action
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Sborz (knee) struck out one over a scoreless inning in Wednesday's spring game against the Reds.
Wednesday marked the first time in two weeks that Sborz pitched in a game environment. His 4.50 spring ERA is clouded by his first outing -- two runs in one inning -- but he's been unscored upon in three straight appearances, including 1-2-3 efforts the last two times out. Sborz will fill a high-leverage role in 2024.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Contending with sore knee
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Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Sborz has been battling knee soreness lately but will throw a live batting practice session Monday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Sborz has been held out of Cactus League action for nearly two weeks because of the knee issue, but he'll face hitters Monday and should be ready for a game appearance soon. The Rangers anticipate the reliever being fine for Opening Day.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Shaky debut
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Sborz allowed two runs on a hit and a walk while striking out one over one relief inning during Wednesday's spring game against the Dodgers.
Sborz made his Cactus League debut, and the results were different from the last time he pitched in a competitive environment; the right-hander shut the door on Arizona for the final out of the 2023 World Series. Giving up a two-out, two-run home run to the No. 9 hitter Wednesday wasn't ideal, but it should not prevent Sborz from filling an expected role as part of manager Bruce Bochy's high-leverage bullpen crew. He could see save opportunities for a team with a volatile closer situation.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Considered high-leverage option
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Sborz is among of four relievers being considered as high-leverage bullpen option, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Sborz joins Jose Leclerc, David Robertson and Kirby Yates among the relievers manager Bruce Bochy plans to use in high-leverage situations. Bochy stopped short of naming a closer and refused to place them in any order early in camp. "We've got some high-leverage guys down there that can help each other out and help give guys days off," Bochy said. "I'm not going to get into exactly what the pecking order is, because they're all really good relievers with really good resumes." Sborz had an inflated 5.50 ERA in 2023, but a 3.35 xERA suggests he pitched better than the standard ERA indicates. His 36.9 strikeout percentage and 66:17 K:BB were also encouraging. Health will be a factor for Sborz, who has spent five stints on the injured list over the last two seasons.
Sborz signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Sborz posted an ugly 5.50 ERA across 52.1 innings in 2023, though that also came with just a 53.8 percent strand rate. He'll need to keep the ball in the yard to be more effective -- he served up 1.4 HR/9 -- but his 66:17 K:BB suggests there is room for improved results. Sborz figures to be a key high-leverage reliever in the Rangers' bullpen in 2024.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Available to pitch in Game 4
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Sborz (hamstring) said he'll be available out of the bullpen in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday versus the Diamondbacks, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Sborz experienced some hamstring cramps while pitching a scoreless seventh inning in the Rangers' Game 3 win on Monday, but he showed up back at Chase Field in Arizona on Tuesday with no lingering discomfort. The 29-year-old right-hander has allowed just one run through 9.2 innings of work in the 2023 postseason.
The Rangers reinstated Sborz (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Sborz had been on the injured list since Sept. 5 due to a strained hamstring. He threw one inning during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock, during which he gave up two hits and struck out three batters. The 29-year-old righty has put up a 5.80 ERA and 1.19 WHIP through 49.2 frames this season and figures to be in the mix for high-leverage outings as the Rangers push for a postseason spot. Jake Latz was optioned to Round Rock in a corresponding move.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Facing hitters again
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Sborz (hamstring) threw a live batting practice session Monday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
Sborz faced off against two of the Rangers' rehabbing hitters, Josh Jung (thumb) and Adolis Garcia (knee). The Rangers could look to send out Sborz on a brief minor-league rehab assignment before bringing him back from the 15-day injured list, though the organization has yet to announce its plans for the right-handed reliever. Before hitting the IL on Sept. 5, Sborz had compiled a 5.80 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 49.2 innings out of the bullpen this season.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Out with hamstring strain
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Sborz was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a hamstring strain, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Sborz took the loss Monday against Houston after he gave up five earned runs over two-thirds of an inning, which capped off a six-appearance stretch during which he surrendered 13 earned runs. The right-hander had a 3.83 ERA through 36 outings prior to that ugly span, and he'll now be sidelined for at least the next couple weeks as he attempts to get healthy.
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Rangers' Josh Sborz: Faces heart of order
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Sborz struck out one and retired all three batters he faced in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the White Sox.
Starter Andrew Heaney was pulled from a 1-0 game after giving up a single to lead off the seventh inning with the heart of Chicago's order due up. Texas manager Bruce Bochy chose Sborz to face Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez and Andrew Benintendi, and the reliever dispatched them on nine pitches (seven strikes). The right-hander was recently activated off the injured list, and the manager has him throwing high-leverage innings -- a role Sborz earned with a strong June prior to a biceps injury. Aroldis Chapman and Will Smith followed with perfect innings to protect the shutout.
