Dane Dunning’s first start with the Texas Rangers in spring training went according to plan — and even came with a good-old fashioned case of nerves.
“The nerves still get to you,” Dunning said. “I want to call myself a veteran at this point. But it was cool to get the first one on the way.”
Dunning threw one inning of shutout baseball in his 2024 debut against the Kansas City Royals. He was long gone after the Rangers beat the Royals, 5-4, at their shared complex in Surprise, Ariz.
Dunning didn’t strike anyone out, but Garrett Hampson flew out, followed by Vinnie Pasquantino’s groundout and Nelson Velasquez’s lineout.
It was an efficient inning as Dunning continues to work with his delivery, specifically his lower body, in an effort to improve his fastball just a bit.
“I’m trying to take up the velo just a tad bit without sacrificing command or extension and things like that,” Dunning said. “I felt really good today.”
He said he would have liked another inning but indicated that he expects a short turnaround between Friday and his next appearance. He said it was likely in four days but wasn’t completely sure.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy saw exactly what he wanted to see from Dunning.
“That was Dane,” Bochy said. “Threw strikes, worked both sides of the plate, mixed it up well.”
As for that new pitch everyone has been asking him about? Dunning still isn’t revealing what it is, but he did say that he threw it in his one-inning outing. If you were at the game, you would have known the pitch. It didn’t exactly get to the plate.
“In the game, I just told myself I didn't want to just float in there,” Dunning said. “So I kind of just ripped it and spiked it 47 feet.”
Dunning is expected to start the season in the rotation as three Rangers pitchers continue their rehab from injury — Jacob deGrom (Tommy John surgery), Max Scherzer (herniated disc) and Tyler Mahle (Tommy John surgery). All are expected back by mid-season.
Dunning was the Rangers Pitcher of the Year for 2023 after he went 12-7 with a 3.70 ERA in 35 games (26 starts). He began the season as a reliever and then moved into the rotation at the end of April after deGrom’s elbow injury, which eventually required Tommy John surgery.
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