Rangers Spring Training Preview: Taylor Hearn

Taylor Hearn has a solid role as a reliever for the Texas Rangers going into 2023.

InsidetheRangers.com previews every player on the Texas Rangers 40-man roster heading into Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona.

P Taylor Hearn

In 2022: Hearn went 6-8 with a 5.13 ERA in 31 appearances (13 starts). He had two holds and one save (first of his career) in 100 inning pitched. He gave up 107 hits, 60 runs (57 earned), 11 home runs and 43 walks. He struck out 97. He allowed opponents to hit .268 and he had a 1.50 WHIP.

Hearn basically had two different seasons in 2022. He started the season in the Opening Day rotation and lasted through mid-June. Command and pitch count were his biggest issues. During his stint in the rotation he went 4-5 with a 6.25 ERA. When the Rangers sent him to Triple-A Round Rock, it was to give him a chance to work on command. He made three appearances as an opener from June 25 to July 23 with the Rangers.

But, in August, the Rangers gave him a full bullpen role and his command and numbers flourished. In his final 15 games Hearn went 2-2, recorded his first career save and dropped his ERA to 4.25, nearly two points below his ERA as a starter.

Perhaps most importantly, batters hit .212 against him during that time. As a starter, his opponent batting average was better than .300. He ended the season with a defined role that fit him and was designated the Rangers’ finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award for his public service.

Hearn’s Career at a Glance: The Royse City, Texas, native is entering his fifth Major League season. He was drafted four different times, with the last getting him into the Washington organization in 2015. Hearn joined the Rangers in 2018 as part of a deal that send Keone Kela to Pittsburgh.

Hearn is 12-15 for his career with a 4.95 ERA.

Contract Status: Hearn and the Rangers avoided salary arbitration after the pitcher agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.46 million.

In Surprise: Hearn doesn’t have a shot at the rotation in 2023, unless the Rangers have a rash of injuries. But that’s all right because he found his role in the back half of last season as a reliever. He had better command of his pitches and seemed to relish being able to cut loose, so to speak, as a reliever. He didn’t have to worry about a pitch count, just giving the Rangers all he had for one or two innings. With Matt Moore in free agency and not expected back, Hearn is the most logical pitcher to assume Moore’s role as Brock Burke’s partner in the bullpen this season.

2023 Texas Rangers 40-Man Spring Training Previews:

Joe Barlow | John King | Dane Dunning | Brett Martin | Jake Odorizzi | Yerry Rodriguez | Owen White | Cole Ragans | Andrew Heaney | Glenn Otto | Josh Sborz | Ricky Vanasco | Cole Winn | Nathan Eovaldi | Jon Gray | Jonathan Hernández | Spencer Howard | José Leclerc | Martín Pérez | Brock Burke | Jacob deGrom |

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