The Rangers have purchased the contract of left-hander Brandon Mann from Triple-A Round Rock, according to an announcement from the team. Texas optioned southpaw Yohander Mendez to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
Mann is finally in position to make his major league debut 16 years after the franchise formerly known as the Devil Rays selected him in the 27th round of the 2002 draft. Set to turn 34 on Wednesday, Mann is in line to become the second-oldest Ranger to make his MLB debut, per the team’s executive VP of communications, John Blake (via Twitter).
Mann has taken a circuitous route to get to this point, as you’d expect. In addition to spending several years in the minor leagues with multiple franchises, Mann has garnered experience on the independent circuit and in Japan. After playing the previous couple seasons with the Oakland organization, including a 2016 campaign in which he earned an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, Mann inked a minors pact with the Rangers over the winter. He then produced excellent results in Round Rock to open the year, with a 1.56 ERA and 6.8 K/9 against 2.6 BB/9 across 17 1/3 innings (12 appearances, one start), en route to a big league promotion.
Wow. I doubt he’s any good but what a great story. I’m rooting for him.
Lefty that sits 92.
you doubt he’s any good? seriously?
Yeah, usually good pitchers don’t take 16 years to reach the majors.
Congrats to him, he never gave up hope and it worked out. Love to see that.
(Slow clap begins by one player)….Rudy, Rudy
(Clap builds by other players on the bench)…Rudy, Rudy
(Whole stadium chants)…Rudy, Rudy!!
I mean, he’s played in the minors for five different organizations, two different Indy leagues and two seasons in Japan, plus was out of baseball for an entire season twice. The persistence is quite impressive and I can only imagine how awesome this is for him.
Welcome to the Show Kiddo
Conner!!!!! Who’s the oldest Ranger to make his MLB debut please?
The tweet he linked to explains that it was Yoshi Tateyama in 2011; he was 35.
Thanks! I don’t do tweets well.
Yeah, I was in the show. I was in the show for 21 days once – the 21 greatest days of my life. You know, you never handle your luggage in the show, somebody else carries your bags. It was great. You hit white balls for batting practice, the ballparks are like cathedrals, the hotels all have room service, and the women all have long legs and brains.
So I’ve heard…
and Kevin Costner gets all the good sports movie roles! Great flick !
He did okay in his MLB debut against Houston.
His story is interesting to say the least. Pitching for Yokohama in the Japanese big leagues, setting the league record for strike outs in a season while with Fargo in Indy ball and some good numbers in the minors. There are good players who never get a chance while others get plenty. How much a team has invested in you monetarily is a factor too often. I know Brandon personally and he is as composed on the field as he looks and very happy and humbled to finally get the call. He can get lefties out, sits 92 with the fastball and with a wicked slider hopefully his performances keep him there and someone else gets sent out when rehab stints are completed.