Texas Rangers All-Time Team: The Pitchers

By Lisa Weatherall | Dec 28, 2014

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Aug 20, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Texas Rangers relief pitcher Neftali Feliz (30) celebrates their 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Kenny Rogers (133-96, 4.16) – Over the course of 12 seasons with the Texas Rangers (1989-1995, 2002-2002, 2004-2005) pitched the only perfect game in Texas Rangers history. Rogers is also the only Rangers pitcher to win a Gold Glove Award at pitcher 5 in total (4 with Texas, 1 with Detroit Tigers). The lefty pitched 252 game starts, 128 game finishes, 21 complete games and 6 shutouts. Rogers gave up 1,997 hits, 882 earned runs, 195 homers, walked 686 batters while earning 1,201 strikeouts.

7/28/1994 Rogers pitches first and only perfecto in TX history, 14th perfect game in MLB history.

Curious about those Gold Gloves? How about this triple play Rogers starts on April 12, 2002 against the New York Yankees. Nice!

RELIEF PITCHER:

Neftali Feliz (9-7, 2.43) – Acquired from a trade with the Atlanta Braves in 2007 the Dominican Republic native made his MLB debut August 3, 2009 and became the full-time closer in 2010. At the age of 22, Feliz helped the Texas Rangers accomplish something the club had never been able to do, defeat the New York Yankees to make their first World Series appearance.

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In 2012 Texas moved him to the starting rotation, in May he was placed on the disabled list due to a torn UCL that would ultimately lead to Tommy John Surgery. The Feliz we knew seemed to be gone after only 6 appearances in 2013 and the struggles he showed in the first half of this season. However, in the 2nd half of the season he proved he still had the stuff going 2-1 in 25 games with 13 saves. His final line for 2014 is 2-1, 1.99 ERA, 30 G, 22 GF, 13 SV, 31.2 IP, 21 SO, not bad at all.

Neftali Feliz makes his ML debut at Oakland Athletics on August 3, 2009, fans four in 2 scoreless innings pitched.

I couldn’t find any film of Feliz throwing a blazing fastball at 103.4 mph on September 1, 2010 so let’s take a look at him making history of another kind. On September 25, 2010 Neftali Feliz earned his 38th save of the season breaking the single-season record for saves by a rookie and it just so happens to be the save that gave the Rangers their first AL West title since 1999.

And of course I can never mention Feliz without showing this video. Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees, October 22, 2010, bottom of the 9th Alex Rodriguez at the plate, Rangers are one strike away from going to the World Series…. enjoy this!

THE CLOSER:

John Wetteland (20-12,2.95) – Wetteland pitched four seasons with the Texas Rangers (1997-2000) and set the Rangers All-Time saves record (150) over 253.0 innings pitched. He was an All-Star for two consecutive years (1998-1999), and in the ’99 All-Star game Wetteland became the first Texas Rangers pitcher to earn an All-Star save. After his $23MM/4-year contract ended in 2000, John Wetteland retired, and was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2005.

The only footage MLB.com has of Wetteland playing is from Texas Rangers at New York Yankees on August 16, 1997. But, what is interesting is that John Wetteland isn’t pitching. He’s batting in 10th and he delivers.

I hope you have enjoyed the Pitching edition of YOUR All-Time Texas Rangers Team! I know I have enjoyed (maybe too much) looking at film and putting this together. In the next edition, I will reveal who you voted for catcher, first base, second and third base. I know what you’re thinking. I skipped over shortstop. Well, I did, but not by accident.

You voted the same player for shortstop AND designated hitter. So, I was wanting to do something a little special for this player. Any guesses on who it might be? Let me know below, on our Facebook page or on Twitter!

ONLY 98 DAYS UNTIL TEXAS RANGERS PLAY THEIR FIRST GAME OF 2015!!!

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