Rangers Release Josh Sborz: What It Means for the Bullpen

**Josh Sborz‘s Texas Rangers Tenure Ends: A Look Back at a Postseason Hero’s Struggle**

The Texas Rangers have officially parted ways with relief pitcher Josh Sborz, ending his run with the club. Whether he chose to opt out or the team made the call isn’t entirely clear, but either way, it’s a shift for both sides.

That’s the last page of the *Josh Sborz* chapter in Arlington—a story full of wild highs and some pretty frustrating lows. His most recent seasons really highlight just how tough it can be to recapture old magic.

From World Series Hero to Release: The Tumultuous Journey of Josh Sborz

Sborz spent three seasons in the Texas Rangers’ bullpen, wrapping up in 2024 with 150 regular-season innings under his belt. He finished with a 4.86 ERA, which is respectable but doesn’t quite tell the whole story.

The real headline came during the 2023 postseason. Sborz absolutely shined, tossing 12 innings and giving up just one run over 10 appearances.

He basically cemented his place in Rangers history with a gutsy, 2 1/3-inning, scoreless save in Game 5 of the World Series. That’s one of those moments Rangers fans won’t forget anytime soon.

The Shadow of Injury: Shoulder Woes Derail Momentum

After that postseason run, things took a rough turn. Sborz started dealing with nagging injury/”>shoulder problems that just wouldn’t go away.

He ended up needing a debridement procedure and missed the entire 2025 season. That’s a tough pill to swallow after such a high.

Even when he tried a short minor-league rehab, it didn’t go smoothly. More setbacks popped up, stalling his comeback.

The Rangers, maybe hoping for a little magic, non-tendered him but then brought him back on a minor league deal. They wanted to give him time and a chance to rebuild.

But even when he got healthy again this year, the results just didn’t show up.

Struggles in Triple-A: Ineffectiveness Clouds the Future

His stint at Triple-A Round Rock this season has been rough. Over 14 1/3 innings, Sborz gave up 13 runs.

The numbers kind of speak for themselves:

• He struck out 17 of the 65 batters he faced, which is about a 26% strikeout rate.
• He issued nine walks—control clearly a problem.
• Six home runs allowed, which is a big red flag for a reliever.

The Rangers tried a handful of things to help him get back on track. He took a month off from games, working on his mechanics and trying to iron things out.

He even made a quick stop at Double-A before returning to Round Rock on May 27th, still searching for some consistency. But his fastball velocity in Triple-A has sat around 93.4 mph, which is a step down from his best.

It’s tough to watch a postseason hero battle through this kind of grind.

What Lies Ahead for Josh Sborz?

Josh Sborz has seen his stats dip lately, and his velocity just isn’t what it used to be. Landing a Major League contract now seems pretty unlikely.

At 32, he’s probably looking at another minor-league shot. Maybe he’ll find a team willing to give him a chance to put in the work and chase that old form.

His time with the Rangers is over, but you can’t ignore what he’s done in the past. That postseason run—yeah, people still talk about it.

Maybe he’ll find a way to be that guy again. It’s tough, but baseball’s weird. Sometimes, comebacks happen when you least expect them.
 
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