Rangers veteran benefitting others and benefitting himself from new outlook

On Sunday, Shawn Armstrong will finish off the best year of his career. In addition to being the unsung hero of the Texas Rangers largely faceless bullpen Armstrong has set full-season career-bests in innings (73), strikeouts (74), saves (9) and WHIP (0.80.

In addition to being a leader on the field, the veteran reliever has been a leader off of it. He's prepped, cooked, served and delivered meals at shelters and missions all across the American League. Armstrong takes part in Big League Impact, a non-profit organization started by former St. Louis pitcher Adam Wainwright, which pairs athletes with causes to help provide basic needs in communities “in an effort to save lives, restore dignity, and instill hope.”

His work to help others doesn't stop there for Armstrong. He also offers a financial contribution for each Texas Rangers win and each of his own strikeouts to the JR98 Foundation, a Fort Worth-based non-profit centered on advocating for mental health named for the late Jean Ramirez, who attended Boswell High School and was later the Tampa Bay Rays bullpen catcher until his death by suicide in 2022.

Shawn Armstrong showing how to win with the Texas Rangers and off the field

Armstrong credits a change in his own viewpoint about life as one of the reasons he loves to give back so soon. The pitcher was coming off a near career worst season and his wife wasn't having it. He decided he needed a fresh approach to his career.

“When I got the offer from Texas, I told myself, I’m not even going to listen to other offers,” he said. “I had a wonderful organization interested in me. And I was going to go have fun and enjoy it. Whatever happens, happens. If it’s the last year, it’s the last year, but just be where your feet are. And then getting involved in Big League Impact and dealing with mental health, suicide prevention, it all just hit home. Enjoy the game. You never know when your last pitch is going to come. Enjoy what you are doing.”

The Texas Rangers have been beneficiaries of Shawn Armstrong's outlook on life and rejuvenated career. They'd be smart to bring him back for one more season at least.