Texas Rangers: 4 pitchers who would improve the bullpen

Texas Rangers Minor Leaguer Chase Lee

Chase Lee was drafted in the sixth round in 2021 to eventually fill a role in the bullpen. He was a bullpen pitcher at Alabama and has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in the minor leagues. The Rangers have pushed him very aggressively in his two years in the system.

The normal procedure for pitchers the Rangers draft is once they sign they go out to the Arizona complex. They normally will then go through workouts and then instructional league in September. That was not the case for Lee. He did go out to Arizona, but it was a very short stay. He was sent out to Double-A Frisco and pitched the rest of the season for the Roughriders. He then began 2022 back in Frisco, but was promoted to Round Rock in June 2022.

He has pitched well for Round Rock in his almost one full year since being promoted. He was just honored as pitcher of the week last week for what he did against El Paso. He made three appearances. They each were two-inning appearances. He did not allow any runs. struck out eight, and walked two. In his appearance on the 21st, Lee picked up his first save of the season.

Lee has been primarily used in the seventh through ninth innings. The inning he has been used the most is the eighth. He has a 1.29 ERA, with eight strikeouts to four walks. He has only allowed one run in the eighth inning. The sidearmer would give the Rangers a right-handed pitcher with a funky motion that they have not seen since Darren O' Day was pitching for the Rangers in the 2000's. It would give batters a different look and Bochy can match Lee up with right-handed hitters. Right-handers have a .203 average against Lee with 25 strikeouts to six walks.

Lee would be someone who can come up and would have a defined role. He would pitch in the middle innings against right-handed hitters. Bochy would deploy him in situations he would be able to excel in. The Rangers' bullpen is missing a specialist and Lee would be able to fill that role.