Texas Rangers: A Running Diary of Three Important Prospect Outings

Joe Palumbo

Palumbo has already appeared in three games this season, starting two of them and providing relief in another. The two starts didn’t go well, but the relief appearance was a success. Palumbo only allowed one hit in three innings. He’s had a bit of bad luck this year, so I’m hoping he does well today.

1st Inning

Fletcher singles to right, and then Trout hits a bomb to left field. Palumbo has thrown five pitches and it’s 2-0 Angels. Not the start you wanted to see. But Allard battled after giving up runs early on Monday, so maybe Palumbo can do the same.

Brian Goodwin singles, then Upton and Calhoun walk to load the bases. Welp. I’m concerned. The bases are loaded and there are no outs. But then Palumbo strikes out Luis Rengifo, and he’s a ground ball away from this inning not being a disaster. And he does get his ground ball, though unfortunately the Texas Rangers can’t turn two, and Goodwin scores.

It’s 3-0, which isn’t terrible. Alfredo Tovar grounds out to third to end the inning, and Palumbo hasn’t torpedoed the game in the first inning.

2nd Inning

Palumbo gets Anthony Benboom to fly out to center on three pitches, but I notice he’s looking at his thumb. I’m not sure why. As he’s facing Fletcher, his left hand is fidgeting between pitches. Whatever is wrong, it’s not bothering him too much, as he strikes out Fletcher on six pitches.

Palumbo throws a strike to Trout, and he looks at his hand again. Another strike, and another glance at his hand. He kind of flings it back in disgust at one point. He throws a high fast ball, and now he’s grimacing and shaking his hand. He shakes his head and Chris Woodward and the training staff come out to the mound.

There’s a blister on Palumbo’s thumb, and he’s out for the game. It’s definitely not the outing he wanted, but as Ron Washington once said, that’s how baseball go.