JOSÉ LECLERC NEWS

Rangers Spring Training Preview: Jose Leclerc Jose Leclerc returned to health in 2022 and eventually took over the closer role in the final two months of the season.

JANUARY 28, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Gets option picked up The Rangers exercised Leclerc's $6 million team option for 2023 on Wednesday.

Impact Leclerc missed most of the first two and a half months of the 2022 campaign while he recovered from last year's Tommy John surgery, but he re-emerged as a serviceable late-inning arm for Texas once he returned from the injured list. Over his 47.2 innings with Texas, Leclerc tallied a 2.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 54:21 K:BB. He finished the season as the Rangers' preferred end-game option and raked in seven saves in the process, and while he tentatively sits atop the bullpen depth chart at this early stage of the offseason, expect Texas to add some competition at the back end of the bullpen rather than handing Leclerc the closing gig outright.

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rangers 'Leaning Toward' Jose Leclerc's Option Jose Leclerc worked his way back from Tommy John surgery to be the Texas Rangers closer again.

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Rangers 40-Man Roster Wraps: Jose Leclerc The former closer returned to the Texas Rangers from Tommy John surgery in midseason and ended up with a solid season.

NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Picks up seventh save Leclerc allowed a hit but struck out the side to earn the save Thursday against the Angels.

Impact Leclerc allowed a one-out double but still recorded his seventh save of the season with relative ease. Since recording his first save of the campaign Aug. 7, Leclerc has maintained a 1.93 ERA with a 28:7 K:BB across 18.2 innings. He should remain a relatively consistent source of saves to close the campaign.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Seager's eighth-inning homer pushes Rangers past Angels 5-3

Corey Seager hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, helping the Texas Rangers top the Los Angeles Angels 5-3

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 • Associated Press

Gets work in non-save situation Leclerc allowed one hit and struck out two over a scoreless ninth inning in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Angels.

Impact Leclerc, who hadn't pitched last Friday, was probably going to pitch regardless of the situation. As it was, the Rangers were leading 4-2 in the eighth inning, and he was warming up for what could have been a save. However, the Rangers plated three runs in the bottom of the frame, making it a non-save opportunity for the closer. The rust did not have an effect on Leclerc, who found the zone on 11 of his 14 pitches.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up save Leclerc picked up the save in Friday's 4-3 win over the Rays, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out none and walking one over one inning.

Impact Despite allowing a hit and a walk with no strikeouts, Leclerc was able to pick up the save Friday, his sixth of the season. It took him 25 pitches, and comes off the heels of a loss and blown save in his last appearance. He has two losses in his last five appearances, but also has four saves in his last six chances. Leclerc seems to be the favorite to earn saves in Texas and seems to have a long leash as well.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Blows save Wednesday Leclerc (0-3) took the loss and blew a save against the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out two batters in one inning.

Impact Leclerc entered in the ninth inning with Texas up by a run. He retired two of the first three batters he faced before giving up the game-tying run on a double by Vimael Machin. An error then allowed the go-ahead run to score, and Leclerc ended up with the loss when the Rangers couldn't scratch out a score in the bottom of the frame. It was the first blown save of the season for the right-hander, but his closer job figures to be secure given his prolonged run of strong pitching. Since the All-Star break, Leclerc has posted a 2.17 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 35:11 K:BB over 29 innings.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

A's rally for 2 in 9th, use Seager's error to beat Rangers

Stephen Vogt’s routine grounder with two outs in the ninth inning glanced off Texas shortstop Corey Seager’s glove, scoring the go-ahead run as the Oakland Athletics rallied past t...

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 • Associated Press

Jays drop series finale to Rangers behind strong Perez start

Martin Perez allowed one run in six innings and Adolis Garcia homered for the second consecutive game as the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Sunday afternoon

SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 • Associated Press

Bichette hits 5th HR in 4 games, Blue Jays beat Rangers 4-3

Bo Bichette homered for the fifth time in the last four games, Danny Jansen hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth inning and the playoff-contending Toronto Blue Jays beat Texas...

SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 • Associated Press

Seager scores go-ahead run as Rangers edge Valdez, Astros

Framber Valdez threw his 23rd straight quality start but Corey Seager scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch and the Texas Rangers snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 4-3 win...

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 • Associated Press

Trio of homers in first 3 innings help Rangers beat Tigers

Nathaniel Lowe, Ezequiel Duran and Mark Mathias homered in the first three innings, and the Texas Rangers hung on to beat the Detroit Tigers 7-6

AUGUST 27, 2022 • Associated Press

Picks up save Leclerc struck out one over a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Mariners.

Impact Rangers closer Jonathan Hernandez was seemingly unavailable after throwing two straight days and three of the last four, opening the door for Leclerc to pick up his first save since 2020. He's pitched well since returning from the break, posting a 1.88 ERA over 10 games (14.1 IP), which earned him a promotion to high-leverage work and put him in line for a spot save opportunity.

AUGUST 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Seager, Sborz lead Rangers past Mariners 5-3

Corey Seager doubled twice and scored twice, including the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning, as the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners

AUGUST 14, 2022 • Associated Press

Julio Rodriguez returns to lineup, Mariners beat Rangers

Star rookie Julio Rodriguez got two hits in his return to the Seattle lineup and the Mariners took over the first wild-card position in the American League by beating the Texas Ran...

AUGUST 13, 2022 • Associated Press

Takes loss Leclerc (0-1) suffered the loss Thursday, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one over 1.2 innings against the Orioles.

Impact Leclerc set down the first four batters faced, but he gave up a four-pitch walk with two outs in the eighth that set off a Baltimore rally. The base on balls has been his bugaboo over the years, and Leclerc has a 4.2 BB/9 rate since returning to the majors from Tommy John surgery in June. The right-hander has worked himself into a high-leverage, late-inning role out and pitched well after a rough re-entry to the majors.

AUGUST 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Orioles win 6-3 for 1st-ever season series sweep of Rangers

Baltimore pinch-hitter Terrin Vavra hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning and the Orioles completed their first season series sweep against Texas with a 6-3 win

AUGUST 3, 2022 • Associated Press

Orioles trade Mancini, then beat Texas 7-2 to match '21 wins

Cedric Mullins homered leading off Baltimore's first game without Trey Mancini, and the Orioles beat the Texas Rangers 7-2

AUGUST 2, 2022 • Associated Press

Throws back-to-back days Leclerc walked one and struck out three over a scoreless ninth inning in Monday's 4-3 loss to Seattle.

Impact This was the fifth consecutive appearance in the eighth inning or later for Leclerc, and the first time the right-hander has thrown back-to-back days since coming back from Tommy John surgery. Leclerc has fanned 16 and walked eight over 16.1 innings since his return, which largely mirrors his results pre-surgery.

JULY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Given ninth-inning work Leclerc allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning during Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Athletics.

Impact Leclerc, who was coming off a promising stretch during which he allowed zero runs over his last seven innings, was deployed to close out a 5-0 lead but ran into trouble. His first pitch was taken deep by Skye Bolt, then he gave up another solo blast to Ramon Laureano, before Garrett Richards rescued the Rangers. With Joe Barlow (blister) landing on the injured list, manager Chris Woodward may have been acclimating Leclerc, a former closer, to a late-inning role.

JULY 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jon Gray sharp through 7 innings, Rangers beat A's 5-2

Jon Gray allowed only a fourth-inning infield single in seven shutout innings and the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 5-2

JULY 14, 2022 • Associated Press

Works two scoreless innings in win Leclerc did not allow a hit or walk while striking out one over two scoreless innings in Monday's 10-8 win over Oakland.

Impact Leclerc threw multiple innings for the third time in his last four outings. After a rough patch following his reinstatement from from the 60-day injured list mid-June, the right-hander has settled in nicely, pitching seven scoreless innings during the month of July. The former closer is used to pitching single innings, but manager Chris Woodward may have found a new role for Leclerc.

JULY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tigers pound 3 HRs, beat Rangers 14-7 to end 6-game skid

Eric Haase had three hits, including one of three Detroit homers, and the Tigers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 14-7 win over the Texas Rangers

JUNE 18, 2022 • Associated Press