Texas Rangers: Three Pitching Prospects to Hit the Majors this Season

3. CD Pelham

Pelham is probably the pitcher Texas Rangers fans are most familiar at this point. Pelham, in fact, has already seen some big league time on the mound coming at the end of 2018. Pelham was drafted in the 33rd round of the 2015 draft by the Rangers and saw his status within the organization rise over the past couple of seasons.

Hearn closed the 2018 season as the 15th ranked prospect by MLB Prospect Watch and climbed his way through the minor league ranks quickly starting the season with High-A Down East. He made his way to Double-A Frisco and spent a chunk of the season before his trip to Arlington as part of the September call-ups.

In 23 games with Down East, all out of the bullpen, Pelham dominated High-A ball with his high-90’s fastball and killer cutter. Opponents hit just .215 against him in High-A and he racked up 11 saves while striking out more than a batter an inning. With Double-A Frisco, Pelham continued to work out of the bullpen making 24 appearances. He struggled, like his counterparts earlier in the list, allowing opponents a .270 batting average. His 6.16 ERA was also a bit disconcerting as he struggled to limit walks in his time with Frisco.

Pelham got the call-up to the Rangers in September and appeared in 10 games throwing 7.2 innings. His ERA was 7.04 and opponents were hitting a shocking .353 against him but with such a small sample size coming on a bad team late in the season, I feel we can disregard his MLB work in 2018.

Pelham likely is the first pitcher to crack the Majors this season considering he already spent time there last season. He’s got the makings of a late-inning bullpen pitcher and many feel he could be a big league closer before it’s all said and done. If the Rangers part ways with any bullpen pieces this season, Pelham could hit Arlington fairly quickly and there’s a slight possibility he opens the season with the big league club.