Tuesday Newsletter time: Kohei Arihara had role with Texas Rangers in '21. That's no longer the case
The right-hander from Japan was sent to minor-league camp after two poor Cactus League outings while young pitchers have shined.
The Texas Rangers signed Kohei Arihara in December 2020 with the best intentions.
He was affordable (two years, $6.2 million) and could provide innings in a rotation that desperately needed them.
It was an experiment, sure. Arihara was going to have to be very good in order to survive in the major leagues after a career in Japan.
The right-hander struggled through injury last season, and on Monday was sent to minor-league camp ahead of his second season in the U.S. He’s healthy, but he struggled in two Cactus League starts (19.64 ERA).
In an ordinary spring, he would still be competing for spot on the Opening Day roster. Two stinkers, though, have him ticketed for Triple A Round Rock and an uncertain role and future.
The Rangers want their young starters on the verge of the majors to be in the Round Rock starting rotation.
“The guys who don’t make our team, the young arms are going to have priority there,” manager Chris Woodward told reporters in Arizona.
Arihara, 29, is not as young nor is he as good. Woodward said that Arihara was disappointed but likes some tweaks he made in the offseason despite his performances.
He could end up in the bullpen at Triple A depending on how the MLB roster shakes out. If multiple young starters make the Opening Day roster as relievers, Arihara could be needed as a starter in Round Rock.
If not, he’s like going to work as a reliever. And if the Rangers’ Triple A pitching staff is filled up, well, who knows?
“I think we look at different options, Woodward said. “He’s actually excited about some of the changes he made in the offseason. They haven’t shown up. I think there’s more in there. What he does in Triple A, I just don’t know yet.”
Right-handers Nick Tropeano and Brandon Workman were also reassigned to minor-league camp, as was catcher Yohel Pozo.
Burke is back
One name that hasn’t been mentioned much in the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation is Brock Burke, who two springs ago seemed like a shoo-in for the rotation.
The left-hander needed shoulder surgery, though, and didn’t pitch in 2020. When he finally pitched in 2021, he didn’t look remotely ready.
“I went right to Triple A and just got pounded,” Burke said. “It was almost one of those things that, obviously, you don't want to happen, but it's nice to happen so you can learn and get through it.”
Burke, who grew up the great state of Colorado, finished last season with a 5.68 ERA in 77 2/3 innings at Round Rock. He’s likely headed there again to continue building on how he finished 2021.
He allowed only two runs in his final 17 innings and has been hitting 96 mph this spring. Burke has struck out seven in 4 2/3 scoreless innings in two Cactus League appearances.
He’s older and stronger than he was in 2019, when he made his MLB debut. He’s also coming off a normal offseason in which he had no physical restrictions.
“Last offseason, I could barely do pushups, and this shoulder was still kind of bugging me,” he said. “But the shoulder is 100 percent, and And I haven’t felt like this since ‘19.”
Assignments soon?
Round Rock’s season begins Monday, and players who are headed that way will break camp Thursday.
Those who have been watching the transactions wire can probably take an educated guess at who will be opening with the Express. Catcher Sam Huff, center fielder Leody Taveras, infielder Sherten Apostel and right-hander Yerry Rodriguez are 40-man players who have been optioned to Triple A camp.
Center fielder Bubba Thompson and Davis Wendzel are good bets.
But the same dilemma that will affect Arihara’s role will affect others.
For instance, if Spencer Howard, Kolby Allard and, say, A.J. Alexy make the Opening Day roster, the Rangers would be short on Triple A starters. That could mean that left-hander Cody Bradford and right-hander Zak Kent are potentially needed at Round Rock to open the season.
That would leave openings at Double A Frisco, then at High A Hickory and at Low A Down East.
(Don’t expect Jack Leiter to be in the Triple A mix. He seems destined for Frisco.)
Frisco, Hickory and Down East open April 8, the same day as the Rangers open at Toronto.
Some prospects might be in limbo for a few days while they wait for the big-league roster to shake out.
Doggy video!
I think it’s a lifelong dream our Lily dog, probably 40 pounds later than this fella, to do this. Enjoy. See you Wednesday.
If they had just gone a 3rd year, everything would've been fine! lol
Would Texas allow Arihara to pursue an early return to the NPB? You’d think he’d prefer returning to Japan over pitching in AAA. If he ends up in RR I just don’t see him having a realistic shot back to Arlington. I think he should return to the NPB.