Texas Rangers Reliever 'Amazing' After Rehab

Two years after Tommy John surgery, Texas Rangers reliever Jonathan Hernández feels like he's back to 100 percent.

The Texas Rangers bullpen stacks with arms, but one name to zero in on this season is Jonathan Hernández. After returning to the majors in June of last season from Tommy John surgery, Hernández feels rested and ready.

"It feels great," he said. "[I was] taking some rest and taking time with my family and all that kind of stuff [and] a lot of rehabbing. It feels amazing now."

The Rangers (2-0) look to a three-game opening series sweep against the Philadelphia Phillies at 6 p.m. Sunday at Globe Life Field.

What impressed Rangers manager Bruce Bochy about Hernández is the movement of his pitches. On Opening Day, his sinker ranged from 97-99 mph with a hard sink. He clocked 90 mph on his changeup and used his sharp slider three times.

"You look at the velocity, 98, but it's moving," Bochy said. "It's hard to get that ball in the air, plus you get the slider. I think you start with the stuff. It's electric."

Hernández worked on his command this spring, letting hitters put the ball in play and allowing the defense to do its job.

"I'm happy that I'm throwing the ball over the plate and let my teammates make plays, and I think I'm going to be fine," said Hernández, who had Tommy John in April 2021.

Rangers center fielder Bubba Thompson robbed the Phillies' Jake Cave of a two-run home run on Opening Day behind Hernández. He threw two innings in the 11-7 Texas win, allowing a leadoff triple to score and striking out two in 23 pitches.

Like his teammates, Hernández felt something different within the club heading into Opening Day.

"At the end of Spring Training in Arizona, I was feeling tired," Hernández told Inside the Rangers."Now we're here and this is another different vibe. You can feel the difference in the body, so that's pretty amazing."

The Rangers haven't publicly declared any bullpen roles this early in the season, but it appears Hernández has a place.

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You can find Alex Plinck on Twitter @aplinckTX.

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