ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers may be getting an influx of healthy pitching arms in the coming weeks, according to general manager Chris Young.
Four pitchers — Glenn Otto, Spencer Howard, Danny Duffy and Kyle Funkhouser — could all be headed out for minor-league rehab assignments as soon as the end of May.
Otto and Howard are on the Rangers’ 60-day injured list and are eligible to return on May 29. Duffy and Funkhouser are on minor-league deals so they’re not on a Major League injured list.
Otto was put on the injured list on March 30 with a right shoulder strain. Howard was put on the IL the same day with a right lat strain.
Both have thrown multiple batting practices out at the Rangers’ Spring Training complex in Surprise.
“They’re building up and doing great, feeling really good,” Young said. “I think in the coming weeks they’ll be out on rehab (assignments), since we’re getting close to the end of the 60 days.”
Otto went 7-10 last season as a starter with a 4.64 ERA. Before the injury, he appeared on track for a bullpen role.
Howard went 2-4 with a 7.41 ERA, making just 10 starts as he dealt with injuries for part of 2022.
Duffy, an 11-year veteran with a 68-68 record, joined the Rangers after spending nearly his entire career with the Kansas City Royals. But he’s been out of baseball since the summer of 2021 with arm issues, including surgery for a torn flexor tendon. When the Rangers broke Spring Training, he remained behind to continue his rehab.
Duffy threw live batting practice as recently as Tuesday. Duffy has always been a starter, but the Rangers are leaning toward a bullpen role once he starts his rehab assignment.
“He’s feeling really good,” Young said. “It’s been very encouraging.”
Funkhouser is on a similar track. Funkhouser was in Arlington on Tuesday and threw a live batting practice session. When the Rangers signed him in January, they knew they might have to wait after he had season-ending shoulder surgery with the Detroit Tigers in 2022. He missed the entire season.
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