Rangers will need this southpaw to continue to impress in 2025

The Texas Rangers starting rotation on Opening Day in 2025 will look nothing like how it did a year prior in 2024. Dealing Michael Lorenzen at the Trade Deadline and losing Max Scherzer and Andrew Heaney to free agency (in all likelihood) has changed the team's trajectory. Although those are some very good arms, their departures allowed some other pitchers within the Rangers organization to step up and show what they have.

One of the players who impressed when given the opportunity in the starting rotation was Cody Bradford, a southpaw Texas took in the 2019 draft. He debuted in 2023, but his production back then was nowhere near as impressive as what he posted in 2024. His impressive stint likely earned him a spot in the Rangers rotation next season, and Texas desperately needs him to continue his ascent in 2025.

Rangers need Cody Bradford to continue his success in 2025 with a starting rotation role

Bradford started 2024 in the rotation, but an injury caused him to miss a lot of time ranging from April to July. Despite the missed time, he still pitched in 76.1 innings and was solid in that period. Across those innings, Bradford posted an earned run average of 3.54 and struck out 70 batters. Opposing hitters batted .218 against him and he had a walk rate of just 4.2%, producing a WHIP of 1.01. On top of that, he had an FIP of 3.59.

Those numbers are very impressive, and his Statcast numbers prove that it wasn't just luck. His expected earned run average was at 3.54, which ranked in the 70th percentile. He also limited hitters from getting hard hits, allowing just a 34.8% rate, ranking in the 80th percentile.

He relies on his fastball the most, using it 52% of the time. His fastball run value is excellent at 10, ranking in the 87th percentile. It limited opposing hitters to a .185 batting average and a .344 slugging percentage.

Additionally, his changeup is an average pitch for him as well. Its run value is even at 0, ranking in the 50th percentile. Against the changeup, opposing hitters had a batting average of .210 and a slugging percentage of .333. This pitch also limited exit velocity, as opponents had a 23.7% hard hit rate against it.

Overall, his pitching run value was at six, ranking in the 62th percentile. Bradford really took a step forward in 2024 and emerged as a solid option in the rotation. The Rangers will desperately need Bradford to continue his impressive start to his career in 2025.