The 2017 Texas Rangers: Where are they now?

2017 Texas Rangers bullpen

Alex Claudio was pitching in his 4th season in Texas in 2017.  In 70 games, including one spot start, Claudio pitched 82.2 innings, had a 4-2 record, a 2.50 ERA, and 11 saves.  Claudio pitched one more season 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.

Tony Barnette was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2017.  In 50 relief appearances, Barnette pitched 57.1 innings, had a record of 2-1, a 5.49 ERA, and two saves.  Barnette pitched one more season in Texas before being granted free agency following the 2018 season.  Barnette made two relief appearance with the Chicago Cubs in 2019 before announcing his retirement in January 2019.  Barnette is currently working in baseball operations and scouting for his former team in Tokyo, Japan.

Matt Bush was in his 2nd season pitching out of the bullpen for the Texas Rangers in 2017.  In 57 games, Bush pitched 52.1 innings, had a record of 3-4, a 3.78 ERA, and 10 saves.  Now 36, Bush  is once again healthy, and will make a bid for a job in the Rangers bullpen in 2022.

After 12 relief appearances as a rookie in 2016, Jose Leclerc became a full-time member of the bullpen in 2017.  In 47 appearances, Leclerc pitched 45.2 innings, had a 2-3 record, 3.94 ERA, and two saves.  Leclerc had Tommy John surgery in 2020 and is expected to return to the Rangers bullpen by mid-season in 2022.

After a late season trade in 2016, Jeremy Jeffress was in his 2nd partial season in Texas in 2017.  In 39 games, Jeffress finished 40.2 innings, had a record of 1-2, and a 5.31 ERA.  Jeffress was traded back to Milwaukee before the 2017 trade deadline.  After leaving Texas, Jeffress pitched parts of three seasons in Milwaukee and one season for the Chicago Cubs.  Jeffress signed with Washington for the 2021 season, but was released during Spring Training.  Jeffress pitched in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball last year and at 34, is currently a free agent.

Keone Kela was in his 3rd season in Texas in 2017.  In 39 games, Kela pitched 38.2 innings, had a record of 4-1, with a 2.79 ERA, and two saves.  Kela pitched part of one more season in Texas before he was traded to Pittsburgh.  Kela pitched parts of three seasons in Pittsburgh before signing as a free agent with San Diego.  Kela was granted free agency after the 2021 season and is currently a free agent.

Sam Dyson was in his 3rd season with Texas in 2017.  In 17 relief appearances, Dyson pitched 16.2 innings, had a record of 1-6, with a 10.80 ERA.  After his disastrous start to 2017, Dyson was traded to San Francisco in June.  Dyson pitched parts of three seasons with the Giants and was traded to Minnesota before the trade deadline in 2019.  Dyson pitched his final MLB game with the Twins in 2019 and is currently a free agent.

Jake Diekman was in his 3rd season with Texas in 2017.  In 11 relief appearances, Diekman pitched 10.2 innings, had a record of 0-0, a 2.53 ERA, and one save.  Diekman pitched part of the 2018 season in Texas before being traded to Arizona.  After leaving Texas, Diekman has pitched for three teams including the last three seasons in Oakland.  Now 35, Diekman is currently a free agent.

At 32, Austin Bibens-Dirkx was pitching in his 1st MLB season in 2017.  In 24 games, including six starts, Bibens-Dirkx pitched 69.1 innings, had a record of 5-2, with a 4.67 ERA.  Bibens-Dirkx pitched one more season for the Rangers in 2018.  Bibens-Dirkx pitched parts of 2019 and 2020 with the Texas AAA team in Nashville before pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers AAA team in Oklahoma City in 2021.  He is a current member of Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.