The 2014 Texas Rangers: Where are they now?

During the month of February, I am going to be posting a series called “Where are they now?”.  In this series, the rosters for the Texas Rangers teams will be investigated.  In the third installment, players from the 2014 team will be examined. (All stats used were extracted from baseball-reference.com)

After missing the playoffs in 2013, the Texas Rangers were looking to make it back to the top of the division standings.  Prince Fielder was acquired in exchange for Ian Kinsler in a blockbuster that didn’t work out as planned.  The team finished with a dismal record of 67-95, good for 4th in the AL West Division.

Where are they now: 2014 Texas Rangers Starting Pitching

At 34, Colby Lewis returned to the starting rotation and led the Texas Rangers with 170.1 IP in 29 starts.  Lewis had a record of 10-14 and a 5.18 ERA.  Lewis would go on to pitch two more years in Texas before pitching his final MLB game in 2016.

Yu Darvish was in his 3rd season with the Texas Rangers  in 2014.  He also represented Texas in the All-Star game for the 3rd consecutive year.  Darvish finished 144.4 innings in 22 starts, and went 10-7 with a 3.06 ERA.  Darvish would pitch parts of two more seasons in Texas before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2017.  Darvish has also pitched for the Chicago Cubs and is a current member of the San Diego Padres.

Nick Martinez was a rookie pitcher in 2014.  Martinez pitched 140.1 innings in 29 games including 24 starts, had a 5-12 record, and a 4.55 ERA.  Martinez pitched three more seasons in MLB before taking his game to Japan.  He is currently a free agent.

Nick Tepesch was in his 2nd season with the Texas Rangers in 2014.  Tepesch pitched 126.0 innings in 23 games including 22 starts.  Tepesch had a 5-11 record and a 4.36 ERA.  Tepesch sat out the 2015 season and was granted free agency at the end of the season.  Tepesch pitched two more seasons with three teams before pitching his final MLB game in 2017.

Scott Baker was in his 1st and only season in Texas in 2014.  Baker picthed 80.1 inning in 25 games including eight starts.  Baker had a 3-4 record and 5.47 ERA.  On October 30, Baker was granted free agency.  After leaving Texas, Baker started two games for the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitched his final MLB game in 2015.

Robbie Ross was in his 3rd season with Texas in 2014.  Ross pitched 78.1 innings in 27 games including 12 starts.  Ross had a record of 3-6 with a 6.20 ERA.  Ross was traded to Boston  before the start of the 2015 season.  Ross pitched three more seasons in Boston and did not pitch another MLB game after the 2017 season.  Ross attempted several combacks and ended up voluntarily retiring from the Detroit Tigers on August 6, 2021.

Miles Mikolas started 10 games with the Texas Rangers in 2014.  In 57.1 innings, Mikolas had a 2-5 record and a 6.44 ERA.  After leaving Texas, Mikolas pitched three seasons in Japan and then returned to MLB with St. Louis in 2018.  Today, Mikolas continues to be a member of the Cardinals starting rotation.

Martin Perez was in his 3rd season with the Rangers  in 2014.  Perez compiled 51.1 innings in eight starts, and went 4-3 with a 4.38 ERA.  Perez pitched four more seasons for Texas before he was granted free agency after the 2018 season.  Perez pitched one season in Minnesota and the last two seasons in Boston.  Perez is currently a free agent.

Joe Saunders signed a free agent contract to pitch for Texas in 2014.  Saunders pitched 39.2 innings in eight starts.  Saunders had a 0-5 record and  6.13 ERA before he was released in July.  Saunders would sign with Baltimore before he was granted free agency in October.  He signed with Seattle prior to the 2015 season but opted out of his contract and did not pitched another MLB game.

Derek Holland was in his 6th season with the Texas Rangers in 2014.  Holland finished 37.0 innings in six games including five starts, and had a record of 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA.  Holland would pitch two more seasons with Texas before being granted free agency and signing with the Chicago White Sox in December 2016.  Holland has also pitched for San Francisco, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh, and Detroit.  Holland is currently a free agent.

Tanner Scheppers was in his 3rd season with Texas in 2014.  He pitched 23.0 innings in eight games including four starts, had a record of 0-1, and a 9.00 ERA.  Scheppers pitched three more seasons with Texas before being granted free agency at the end of the 2017 season.  Texas was the only team Scheppers pitched for in his MLB career.

Where are they now: 2014 Texas Rangers Bullpen

Joakim Soria was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2014.  Soria made 35 relief appearances as the closer for the Rangers.  In 33.1 innings, Soria had a record of 1-3, with a 2.70 ERA, and 17 SV.  Soria was traded to Detroit prior to the trade deadline.  During the next seven seasons, Soria pitched for eight different teams.  At 37, after the 2021 season, Soria announced his retirement.

Shawn Tolleson was in the 1st of three seasons in Texas.  Tolleson pitched 71.2 innings in 64 relief appearances.  Tolleson had a 3-1 record with a 2.76 ERA.  Tolleson pitched two more seasons in Texas as the closer.  He became a free agent after the 2016 season and made several unseccessful attempts at comebacks from Tommy John surgery.  Tolleson formally announced his retirement before the start of Spring Training in 2019.

Neal Cotts was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2014.  In 73 relief appearances, Cotts pitched 66.2 innings, had a 2-9 record, a 4.32 ERA, and two saves.  Cotts split the following season between Milwaukee and Minnesota and pitched his last MLB game in 2015.

Roman Mendez was a rookie in 2014.  In 30 relief appearances for the Texas Rangers, Mendez pitched 33.0 innings, had a 0-1 record, and a 2.18 ERA.  Mendez split the 2015 season between Texas and Boston.  Mendez pitched the entire 2016 season in AAA before electing free agency at the end of the season.  Mendez had an unsuccessful 2017 season in Japan, spent the 2018 season in AA with the Washington Nationals affiliate, then went to play the 2019 season in Mexico.  Mendez is currently a free agent.

Jason Frasor was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2014.  In 38 relief appearances, Frasor pitched 29.2 innings, had a 1-1 record, and a 3.34 ERA.  Fransor was traded to Kansas City prior to the trade deadline.  Frasor split the 2015 season between Kansas City and Atlanta, and  finished his MLB career after the 2015 season.

Neftali Feliz returned to full-time duty with Texas in 2014.  The Rangers were careful with him as he only made 30 relief appearances.  In 31.2 innings, Feliz had a 2-1 record, a 1.99 ERA, and 13 SV.  Feliz would pitch part of one more season in Texas before being released.  Since his release from the Rangers in 2015, Feliz has pitched for six different teams and is currently a free agent.

Alexi Ogando was in his 5th and final season with the Rangers in 2014.  Ogando pitched 27 games in relief for Texas.  In 25.0 Innings, Ogando had a 2-3 record, 6.84 ERA, and one save.  Ogando pitched three more seasons of MLB with three teams, before playing his last MLB game with Cleveland in 2018.

Aaron Poreda was in his first season in Texas which was also the last of his MLB career.  In 26 relief appearances, Poreda pitched 21.1 innings, had a record of 2-1, and a 5.91 ERA.  Poreda pitched two seasons in Japan before arm injuries forced him to retire from professional baseball in 2016.

Phil Klein was a rookie pitcher in 2014.  In 17 appearances, Klein pitched 19.0 innings, had a 1-2 record with a 2.84 ERA.  Klein pitched parts of two more seasons with Texas before placed on waivers and selected by Philadelphia.  Klein pitched four games with the Phillies before he was released in December 2016.  Klein pitched the 2017 season in Japan and became a free agent.

Alex Claudio was also a rookie with Texas in 2014.  In 15 relief appearances, Claudio finished 12.1 innings, had a 0-0 record, and a 2.92 ERA.  Claudio pitched four more seasons in Texas before he was traded to Milwaukee after the 2018 season.  Claudio pitched two seasons in Milwaukee and the 2021 season for the Los Angeles Angels.   In January, Claudio signed a free agent contract to pitch the 2022 season with the New York Mets.

Where are they now: 2014 Texas Rangers Bench

Michael Choice was in his 1st of two seasons in Texas in 2014.  Choice was a reserve OF for the Rangers.  In 86 games, Choice hit for a .182 AVG, with nine HR, 36 RBI’s, and one SB.  Choice played one game in 2015 before being assigned to AAA then traded to Cleveland in August.  Choice played in three minor league organizations before signing to play in Mexico in 2018.  Choice bounced around between teams in Mexico before signing to play in the Atlantic League last August.  He was released in September and at 32, is currently a free agent.

J.P. Arencibia was in his only season in Texas in 2014.  Arencibia was a backup C/1B for the Rangers.  In 62 games, Arencibia hit for a .177 AVG, with 10 HR and 35 RBI’s.  In October, Arencibia was granted free agency.  In 2015, Arencibia played 24 games with Tampa Bay.  He is currently a studio analyst for Bally Sports Florida.

Daniel Robertson was a rookie backup outfielder for the Texas Rangers in 2014.  In 70 games, Robertson hit for a .271 AVG, with 21 RBI’s, and six SB.  In November 2014, Robertson was traded to the Los Angeles Angels.  After being traded by Texas, Robertson played for three teams in three years and played his final MLB game for Cleveland in 2017.  Robertson is currently a bench coach in the lower-levels of the Cleveland organization.

Adam Rosales was in his second partial season in Texas in 2014.  Rosales was a utility player for Texas.  In 56 games, Rosales hit for a .262 AVG, with four HR, 19 RBI’s, and four SB.  Rosales played one more season in Texas before being released by the Rangers.  After leaving Texas, Rosales played for four teams in three years.  Rosales played his final MLB game for Cleveland in 2018.  Rosales is currently a minor league coach in the Oakland organization.

Donnie Murphy was playing in his only season in Texas in 2014.  Murphy was a utility infielder for the Rangers.  In 45 games, Murphy hit for a .196 AVG, with four HR and 14 RBI’s.  Murphy was released by the Rangers in July 2014.  Murphy played in the minors for three different organizations before he was released for a final time in 2015.

Luis Sardinas was a rookie utility infielder for Texas in 2014.  In 43 games, Sardinas hit for a .261 AVG, with eight RBI’s, and five SB.  In January 2015, Sardinas was traded to Milwaukee.  After leaving Texas, Sardinas played for four different MLB teams before playing his final MLB game for Baltimore in 2018.  Sardinas is currently a member of the Mariachis de Guadalajara in the Mexican League.

Chris Gimenez played part of the 2014 season as the backup cather in Texas.  In 33 games, Gimenez hit for a .262 AVG, with 11 RBI’s.  Gimenez bounced around between four teams over the last five years of his MLB career, playing his final game for Minnesota in 2018.  Since 2018, Gimenez has been the Game Planning Coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jim Adduci was playing in his 2nd partial season as a utility OF for the Rangers in 2014.  In 44 games, Adduci hit for a .168 AVG, with one HR, eight RBI’s, and three SB.  Adduci played two seasons in Detroit, followed by two games for the Chicago Cubs in 2018.  He made an unsuccessful attempt at a comeback in the Rangers organization in 2020.  Adduci is currently the run production coordinator for the Chicago Cubs.

Ryan Rua was a rookie who played OF/1B for Texas in 2014.  In 28 games, Rua hit for a .295 AVG, with two HR, 14 RBI’s, and one SB.  Rua played his entire five year MLB career with the Rangers, ending in 2018.

Jake Smolinski was a rookie reserve OF for the Rangers in 2014.  In 24 games, Smolinski hit for a .349 AVG, with three HR, and 12 RBI’s.  Smolinski split the next four seasons of his MLB career between Texas and Oakland.  Smolinski played AAA in the Tampa Bay organization for part of 2019 before he was granted his release and finished his career playing the remainder of the season for the NC Dinos in the KBO.