A continuing look at the Rangers 40-man roster.

BROCK BURKE
Age: 24
Left-Handed Pitcher 

Brock Burke came to the Rangers as part of the three-way deal between Texas, Oakland, and Tampa Bay that sent Jurickson Profar to Oakland. Texas also got Eli White, Kyle Bird, and Yoel Espinal in the deal. White is on the Rangers 40-man, Bird is in the system but not on the 40-man. Espinal was eventually released and later signed with the Red Sox.

Burke ended up starting six games for the Rangers in 2019, going 0-2 with a 7.43 ERA. In February, he underwent surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder and missed all of 2020. 

The twenty-four-year-old lefty won’t be ready to go by the beginning of the season and, if at all, will probably make it back to the Rangers 2021. He was the biggest prize for the Rangers in the deal, and they are projecting him to be a starter in the rotation once he’s back. They are hoping that Tampa Bay expertise with drafting pitchers will apply to Burke, who the Rays drafted in the third round of the 2014 draft.

Torn labrums are hit and miss. Some pitcher come back just as dominating as ever. Some never regain their earlier form.

The Rangers could use some breaks when it comes to pitching. Let’s home Burke doesn’t miss a beat when he eventually returns.