The Texas Rangers have reached an agreement on a minor league deal with right-handed reliever Jesus Tinoco, according to a report by Jon Heyman from the New York Post. This marks a reunion between Tinoco and the Rangers, as the team was his most recent Major League Baseball (MLB) club. Tinoco had an impressive performance in 2022 with the Rangers, pitching 20 2/3 innings and achieving a solid 2.18 ERA. However, he faced challenges with a 21.4% strikeout rate and a more concerning 11.9% walk rate. Notably, Tinoco holds the distinction of being the pitcher who served up Aaron Judge’s record-setting 62nd home run in the 2022 campaign.
After his stint with the Rangers, Tinoco spent the 2023 season playing for the Seibu Lions in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. During this time, he maintained a commendable 2.38 earned run average but struggled with a below-average strikeout rate of 18.2% and a shaky walk rate of 12.5%, reminiscent of his 2022 performance in Texas. Tinoco, who was part of a notable trade in 2015 involving Jose Reyes and Miguel Castro, has accumulated a career 4.05 ERA in 66 2/3 big league frames.
As the Rangers head into the upcoming season, they have established a solid bullpen with pitchers like Jose Leclerc, Josh Sborz, Brock Burke, Cody Bradford, and the recently signed Kirby Yates. However, competition remains for the remaining bullpen spots, and it is anticipated that this competition will persist, even if General Manager Chris Young and his team make additional veteran additions before the offseason concludes. Tinoco, a Rep 1 client, is expected to join the big league camp this spring as part of the agreement with the Rangers.
