GLENDALE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker praised left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore’s competitiveness Friday morning. Hours later, in a Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch, Schumaker watched Gore shake off a comebacker and remain on the mound to complete his start.
White Sox second baseman Sam Antonacci hit a 101.1 mph comebacker off of Gore’s left leg in the second inning. Gore fielded it, threw to first for the out and stayed in the game to complete three scoreless frames.
“It’ll probably be ugly,” Gore said of the bruise, “but I’ll be alright.”
That’s all you can ask for on Feb. 27.
Rangers
Here are three other observations from the 3-1 loss.
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Playoff hero debuts: Rangers right-hander Josh Sborz, whom the club re-signed to a minor league deal this winter, made his Cactus League debut against the White Sox as he attempts to work his way back to the big leagues.
Sborz pitched a perfect seventh inning and struck out third baseman Caleb Bonemer with his slider to end it. His fastball averaged 93.1 mph, down from 95.1 mph two seasons ago, and down from 96.9 mph three seasons ago. He missed all of last season after offseason shoulder surgery and his multiple ramp-up efforts stalled when his velocity never ticked up.
Schumaker said that Sborz is “trending up” after the game.
“He’s worked very, very hard to get back to where he once was,” Schumaker said, “and he’s very, very close.”
Diaz’s second game: The Rangers were pleased with Alexis Diaz’s Cactus League debut earlier this week and, more specifically, satisfied with his velocity. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said that they’d hope to see his fastball run 93-94 mph, and in his first game vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks, it did.
His second appearance represented a slight step backwards. Diaz allowed three earned runs on two hits — one of which was a Lamonte Wade Jr. home run — and a walk in a short appearance. He recorded just two outs before he was replaced by minor league right-hander Mason Thompson.
More important than Diaz’s results were his individual pitches. The former All-Star closer’s fastball averaged just 92.9 mph, down a tick from his previous appearance, though it did top 94 mph twice. He threw his slider nearly half of the time Friday and hung one to Wade for the home run. Schumaker described his slider as too “cutterish” in his debut and acknowledged that he was “casting” it in his second game.
“Second outing,” Schumaker said, “he’ll be alright.”
Prospect power: The Rangers — in part because of injuries and illnesses among their big league regulars — started minor league third baseman Rafe Perich at designated hitter against the White Sox. Perich, a seventh-round pick out of Lehigh in the 2024 MLB draft, is a switch-hitter whose offensive profile drew positive reviews when he was selected.
The 23-year-old hit a 108.6 mph single off of White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor for his first Cactus League hit. He slashed .231/.347/.330 with 6 home runs in 96 games split between Low-A Hickory and High-A Hub City last season.
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