Former Rangers World Series hero gets spring training invite for roster shot

The Texas Rangers signed Josh Sborz to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training, the team announced Tuesday. The six-year veteran has spent the last four seasons with the club, winning a World Series with Texas.

Sborz played a vital role in Rangers’ 2023 title 

Most Rangers fans know Sborz for a single pitch: the one that clinched the 2023 World Series. The right hander had quite the postseason for the team a few years ago and Texas bringing him back is a show of faith that he may be able to replicate that success. 

While Sborz didn’t see major league action in 2025 due to injury, the opportunity to showcase improvement during spring training will be crucial if he is to play with the Rangers in 2026. Sborz owns a 4.96 ERA in 154 games played throughout his major league career, but the numbers can be misleading. 

He was lights out for the team during his lone postseason appearances in six seasons, posting a 0.75 ERA through 10 appearances during the title run three seasons ago. That kind of performance doesn’t happen very often and Sborz’s ability to showcase himself on the game’s biggest stage shouldn’t go unnoticed.

It’ll be up to him to prove that he can be useful for Texas this season during spring training, and he just might be able to given what the front office and fans have seen from him in the past. 

Pitching staff shaping up as report date looms 

Sborz is the latest move the Rangers made to their pitching staff, with the team adding Jakob Junis to a one-year contract, giving the team bullpen depth as they head into the 2026 season. Junis tallied a 2.97 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 57 appearances in 2025, giving the Rangers a much-needed reliable bullpen piece.

Pitching will be a huge part of the Rangers’ success and how the arms perform has the ability to dictate a lot of things for Texas. The Rangers had the best team ERA in 2025, which could mean good things for the team if they’re able to replicate that success.

Given that the rotation will consist of the trio of Jacob DeGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Jack Leiter, two other spots are yet to be decidedrs heading into spring. The ability to go deep into games and shut down elite offenses will make or break Texas on the mound, but it seems like the front office knows that based on the moves they’ve made.