Texas Rangers Send Five to Injured List to Start Season

Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young provided extra insight on five players sent to the injured list before Opening Day.

On Wednesday, Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young gave extra information on five players who will start the season on the injured list Wednesday. These players will join Brett Martin (60-day IL), who had shoulder surgery on Jan. 18.

Josh Sborz (15-Day IL)

“Sborz tweaked his ankle a week to 10 days ago,” Young said.

Sborz last pitched on March 22, where he threw a scoreless inning in relief. Of note, he missed the last month of the 2022 MLB season due to elbow soreness.

Leody Taveras (10-Day IL)

While Taveras will miss the opening home stand with the Philadelphia Phillies, the hope is that he’ll be ready for the first road trip of the season against the Chicago Cubs. Young said that Taveras is improving, but not enough to keep him off the injured list.

“The right thing to do is to be cautious here and make sure we get Leody for the duration and not push him to be ready for Opening Day,” Young said.

Jake Odorizzi (60-Day IL)

Early in spring, Odorizzi was diagnosed with right arm fatigue. However, a full diagnosis has not been completed. Once Odorizzi’s arm is assessed by Dr. Keith Meister, for which the date has not been disclosed, the Rangers will further evaluate the situation.

“Every time he tried to step on [the right arm] this spring, there would be about two good days and three bad days. We haven’t made progress the way we wanted. I think taking a step back and evaluating the best way to get him right, is where we are,” Young said.

Glenn Otto (60-Day IL)

Otto suffered a sprained shoulder capsule along with the lat injury. He is currently throwing in Arizona, but the Rangers are taking Otto’s rehab cautiously to begin the season.

“We’re starting from scratch on his buildup,” Young said. “We have to build him up to a starters’ workload [and] it’ll be very gradual. He’ll be at the beginning stages of the rehab throwing program.”

Spencer Howard (15-Day IL)

According to Young, Howard suffered a shoulder impingement coupled with the lat injury he suffered a few weeks ago. While he’s recovering, the Rangers have not decided whether to build him up for a full starter's workload or reign him in as more of a multi-inning reliever. However, the good news is that he is ahead of where Otto is currently and his rehab is progressing.

“He’s back throwing and making good progress. We’re hopeful that it continues to go well,” Young said.

All three of the 10 and 15-day injured list players are backdated to Monday, Mar. 27. Therefore, Taveras will be eligible for next Friday’s contest against the Cubs, while Howard and Sborz are eligible on April 12 against the Kansas City Royals.

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You can find Alex Plinck on Twitter @aplinckTX.

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