Texas Rangers’ Hans Crouse gets invite to big league spring training

After battling injury after injury, prospect righty Hans Crouse is getting an opportunity to showcase himself at big league camp.

The Texas Rangers will be showcasing several of their top pitching prospects this spring, with the most intriguing being Hans Crouse.

The oft-injured righty will be in big league camp for the first time in his career looking to showcase his lively fastball, devastating slider and a new-found changeup.

More importantly, the Texas Rangers need to see that he is healthy for the long haul.

Crouse has battled bone spurs in his right elbow since the 2019 season, and he managed to pitch through it until that August.

Texas Rangers’ RHP Hans Crouse is getting his chance to shine.

He underwent a cleanup surgery in October 2019, hoping to get back on the mound in 2020, but was unable to do so with no minor league season.

The bone spurs may have been a blessing in disguise for Crouse, who beforehand was primarily a fastball/slider pitcher, both of which grade well above-average.

He would feel the bone spurs when he threw his slider, thus leading him to add a changeup.

Although it is still a work in progress, scouts have said that it has a chance to be an above-average pitch with good fade and sink.

His best pitch, though, is his mid-90s fastball that has good run to it and misses barrels, and at times, his fastball tops out at 99 mph.

His slider sits in the mid-80s, and Crouse can manipulate it to have a two-plane break.

Hans Crouse is one of the most intriguing prospects the Texas Rangers have had in recent years.

One thing to note about Hans Crouse is that he is one of the most unconventional pitchers the game has ever seen.

His volatile delivery and quirks on the field make him one of the most animated pitchers the Texas Rangers have ever seen.

A methodical delivery at first turns into an aggressive follow through, while incorporating Johnny Cueto’s shimmy and Daisuke Matsuzaka’s over-the-head windup.

Even with a lot of moving parts, he manages to repeat his mechanics and keep them in sync.

Crouse has also been seen muttering to himself between pitches and grooming the mound like former Detroit Tiger Mark Fidrych.

"“When I’m out on the mound, I’m just loose. I couldn’t really care less what someone thinks of me, as long as I’m not hurting that person. I’m just going to be me out there. I’ve always been me ever since I was a little kid. I’ve always been a little unique and I’ve always wanted to separate myself from the crowd. The way I do it out on the mound is obviously a little different, but it works for me and I’m going to stick with it until someone says it ain’t working anymore.” – Hans Crouse"

Statistically, Crouse’s best season came in 2018 at Spokane, when the 19-year old went 5-1 with a 2.37 ERA while punching out 47 batters.

The 22-year old has plenty of upside, assuming he stays healthy, and should have plenty in the tank ahead of a full minor league season.

It will be a fun spring seeing Cole Winn, Hans Crouse and others in big league camp, and giving us just a taste of what the next great Texas Rangers rotation may look like.