Robbie Ross fan favorite will be missed

The Texas Rangers traded LHP Robbie Ross on Tuesday to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for their top rookie right handed pitcher. This is another big move for the Rangers after staying quiet for most of the offseason.

Robbie Ross made a huge splash on the scene with the Texas Rangers back during the 2012 season.

He was used out of the pen a lot and proved to be a very dominate lefty the Rangers could use to mow down batters. By mid-June he had racked up 6 wins, which made him the quickest pitcher to do that feat that season.

Video: 06/10/12 Robbie Ross earns sixth win
Robbie Ross pitches four shutout frames out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit while fanning two to improve to 6-0 on the season.

During the first half of the 2012 season Ross had a 0.95 ERA over 34 games/47.1 innings holding batters to a .204 batting average. Unfortunately the second half of his rookie season didn’t go so well. His ERA sky-rocketed up to 5.60 over 24 games/17.2 innings. Even though he was struggling during the second half of the season manager Ron Washington still gave him plenty of opportunities.

Video: 08/18/12 Ross escapes jam
Robbie Ross strikes out Anthony Gose to escape a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning

Robbie Ross managed to bounce back during the first half of the 2013 season and was quickly becoming a fan favorite. He was very active in the community and one of the most positive Rangers in the bullpen. He always believed the team was going to win and did his best to spread that attitude.

Video:

08/14/13 Rangers Southwest Airlines Event

, Robbie Ross and

marshaled in a plane, unloaded baggage and helped with boarding for Southwest.

Before the 2014 season Robbie Ross was as optimistic as anyone with the new season. He was sure the Rangers had a good chance to make the playoffs and could work their way to another World Series. He was dead set on making the starting rotation during spring training and actually managed to see his dream come true. But,things didn’t work out so great for Ross.

Texas Rangers

Even though he’d start off many of his games very well, after about the third time through the lineup he’d start to have trouble. Either he would struggle with his command or the hitters would figure his stuff out. He did work on building up his secondary pitches during the offseason by playing in the Dominican Winter Leagues, but it appears he needed a bit more work. It might have been better to leave Ross in the pen as a left specialist, but even when Washington did that last season he was hit pretty hard.

Video: 06/07/14 Milk-off in Texas
The broadcast recaps the cow milk-off from before the game between the Indians’ George Kottaras and the Rangers’ Robbie Ross Jr.

Robbie Ross is now a Boston Red Sox and is getting a fresh start. Hopefully he’ll be able to work out a few of his issues and continue to improve his secondary pitchers. He’s a very good pitcher and still has a lot of potential. I think the Red Sox see value in him still and he just might get a chance again in the starting rotation.