The Rangers announced that they’ve claimed right-hander Kyle Dowdy off waivers from the Mets, bringing their 40-man roster count to a total of 38 players. Dowdy was New York’s selection in the 2018 Rule 5 Draft, meaning he’ll need to stick on Texas’ big league roster or else be exposed to waivers for a second time. If he clears, he’d need to be offered back to the organization from which he was originally selected: the Indians.
Dowdy, 26, posted unsightly results in a combined 124 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last year: a 5.15 ERA with 8.7 K/9 against 3.6 BB/9. However, as Baseball America’s Kyle Glaser examined in depth earlier this spring, Dowdy caught the attention of scouts last season after an enormous velocity jump. Once regarded as a “pitchability” right-hander, with a fastball in the upper 80s and low 90s, Dowdy began working out on a weighted-ball program and altered his arm angle during the 2017-18 offseason. A fastball that previously topped out at 94 mph began sitting in the 94-96 range and even scraped 99 mph on radar guns.
The results weren’t there last season in the minors, and it was a similar tale for Dowdy this spring (seven runs on 15 hits and seven walks with seven strikeouts through 11 1/3 innings), but the rebuilding Rangers will at least take a look at the sudden hard-thrower in hopes of refining his newfound velocity.
todd76
This guy had some bad stats.
ottomatic
astute observation, thx
phenomenalajs
How is that possible? I thought he had to be offered back to the Indians. I didn’t think he could just be claimed by another team.
jorge78
They’re put on waivers first so now the Rangers take over Rule 5 obligations.
Steve Adams
Rule 5 picks are run through waivers first and offered back to their original organization after clearing. If the original organization were to refuse (which would be odd, since taking them back only costs $50K), then he can be sent down. Alternatively, once a player clears, a trade with his original org can also be worked out.
G Vanlue
If the Mets had sent him back to the Indians, they would get $50,000, right? Since he was claimed by TX, do they get anything, or is their $100,000 a sunk cost now? Were they maybe hoping to get that $50,000 back to help cover deGrom’s extension?
bklynny67
50 grand to help cover 137.5 million? LOL No
jbigz12
I’m almost positive that was facetious….
G Vanlue
Yeah, facetious doesn’t always play well in the comment section, but I can’t help myself. Just like with jalapeno poppers.
The Ranger Fan
Faith and Hope report right there, Yep this is the one that should put us over the top.
jorge78
A 12th round senior sign out of the University of Houston. Hasn’t shown much in the minors. I’m surprised he’s still around.
jbigz12
Did you read the article or just comment based off his baseball reference page? It literally says he received a huge velo jump and can now touch 99 after working in the high 80’s early on in his career.
vannzee
He was previously with the Tigers system
david klein
He got traded to Cleveland in the offseason
Michael Chaney
It was actually at the deadline, he came with Leonys Martin
david klein
Ten years ago Mets tried to return O’Day to his team after grabbing him in the rule five draft and Texas claimed him and Oday burned the Mets badly.
stubby66
Ten years ago the velocity hike would have been because of steroids bet he gets tested more this year lol
sethesq
I don’t think I’ve ever read/heard the word “unsightly” used to describe anyone’s stats. lol
Coal tender
Another “cheap” acquisition by this rag-tag organization. What exactly is GM Jonathan Daniels plan for this ball club? He is doing absolutely nothing in even trying to make it into a competitive club. You have to feel embarrassment for those long suffering DFW fans.
jbigz12
Pretty clear he’s rebuilding this ball club. You want him to go sign Keuchel so they win 78 games instead of 76?