Spring Training Preview: Starting Rotation (Ranked)

Robbie Ross

June 26, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; Texas Rangers relief pitcher Robbie Ross (46) pitches against the New York Yankees during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Robbie Ross is another potential pitcher to make the starting rotation.  In 2013 he start off the first half of the season very well.   But in June his ERA started to go up and by the end of the season Ron Washington has stopped putting him in key situation games.   This was a pretty far fall from where he started off at the start of the 2012 season when he quickly earned 6 wins and was practically unhittable.

Ross features a fastball in lower 90’s, which he uses most of the time, a slider and a change up.  Last season Ross has command issues with his fastball.

But this offseason Robbie Ross got some extra playing time in the Dominican Winter League with a few starts.  If you wonder how that ranks, the DWL is like a high AAA league filled with a lot of major league players.  By the end of his playing time, Ross was able to find his form and pitched very well in his last 2 games.

Going in to spring training, Ross will need to finish working on his command, the use of his curveball and develop a good changeup.  If he can manage to tune in those things, he’ll be a solid reliever again.

So far Ross has always been a reliever in the big league.  During his minor league time, he did  start 68 games over 3 season.  So there is potential there for him to be a starter.  But again, like Tanner Scheppers, it is probably best not to mess with a good thing.  If Nich Tepesch is able to take on the role as a starter, Ross should be left as a reliever.  He’s an effective lefty and when he’s on his game, he’s unhittable.