Rangers fans finally have Cody Bradford injury update they've been waiting for (but it's not great)

In early October, The Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland reported that Texas Rangers general manager Ross Fenstermaker expects southpaw Cody Bradford to be a full participant in Spring Training after he missed the 2025 campaign and underwent an internal brace procedure in late June. However, McFarland reported yesterday that Bradford won't return to big league action as soon as previously expected.

Rangers fans finally have Cody Bradford injury update they've been waiting for (but it's not great)

Bradford told McFarland he's slated to throw his first bullpen session on Wednesday. He hopes to begin a minor league rehab assignment shortly after the regular season starts, meaning he'll most likely return to MLB action in May.

Although it's not the worst-case scenario, it's still a bummer that Bradford won't be ready for Opening Day.

Bradford, 28 in February, posted a 3.54 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 13 walks across 76 1/3 innings in 2024. During his rookie season (2023), he split time between the rotation and the bullpen, posting a 5.30 ERA across 56 innings. He surrendered just one earned run on four hits and no walks with five strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings during the 2023 postseason.

Will Cody Bradford be in the Rangers' starting rotation when he returns from his injury?

As of now, we can safely say righties Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Jack Leiter will headline Texas' Opening Day starting rotation, barring injuries. Righty Kumar Rocker and lefty Jacob Latz are the main candidates for the final two spots, but president of baseball operations Chris Young has made it clear he wants to add another starting pitcher via free agency or the trade market this offseason. It's possible the Rangers will start the season with a six-man rotation, but if not, Rocker or Latz will be the odd man out.

Once Bradford returns, the rotation could get pretty crowded. But that's a problem any team would love to have. And, as history tells us Rangers fans, at least one other starter will likely suffer an injury before Bradford returns.

If the entire starting rotation is healthy once Bradford returns, the southpaw could return as a long reliever, at least in the short term. But we all know how well Bradford pitched in 2024 during his limited time as a full-time starter. It'd be in Texas' best interest to have Bradford in its starting rotation. Again, the issue (if you can even call it that) will likely resolve itself, as someone will likely get hurt or Rocker or Latz will struggle to the point where they will lose their spot in the rotation.