Nathan Eovaldi’s first spring training start for the Texas Rangers proved a bit adventurous in the first inning before he tossed two scoreless innings in their 5-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals in Surprise, Ariz.
So what happened? Well, Eovaldi had to adjust to the pitch clock once again.
“In the offseason, you have plenty of time to throw, and you're focusing on all your mechanics and things like that,” he said. “Then you go out there, and you compete, but you don't want to fall behind every hitter, and I felt like I was behind in the majority of those at-bats.”
MLB reduced the pitch clock from 20 seconds to 18 seconds with runners on base while leaving it at 15 seconds with no runners on this offseason.
After allowing a leadoff single in the first, Eovaldi admitted he felt “rushed.”
“I think it's just getting used to it again,” he said.
Physically, Eovaldi said, he felt fine. He was told before the game he would pitch either two innings or 35 pitches.
The Royals' Maikel Garcia hit the leadoff single and then stole second base to put some pressure on Eovaldi. Bobby Witt Jr. grounded out, and Salvador Perez flew out before Eovaldi walked Adam Frazier.
MJ Melendez popped out to end the threat.
Eovaldi retired the side in the second on a groundout and a pair of flyouts.
“I was happy with the way I battled through it,” Eovaldi said. “I thought Kinz (catcher Andrew Knizner) did a good job with working with me and trying to guide me through everything.”
Knizner, who signed with the Rangers in the offseason, started at catcher on Saturday. He’s competing for a backup role behind Jonah Heim.
Eovaldi was 12-5 with a 3.63 ERA in his first season in Texas despite missing more than a month with an injury. He won his first four postseason starts and went 5-0 in the playoffs, including claiming the win in the title-clinching Game 5 of the World Series.
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