Sborz has been “deactivated” from his assignment at Triple-A Round Rock to go through a mechanical maintenance program designed to allow him to better retain velocity with less wear on his arm. Sborz, who underwent shoulder surgery after the 2024 season, had pushed his velocity back to 94-95 mph, just a tick below where he’d been before the injury. But the belief is the effort involved hampered his velocity when he tried to pitch on back-to-back days resulting in a significant dip in velocity.
“It’s more the effort and intent to get [back to his expected velocity] is a little bit more than maybe he was anticipating,” Rangers GM Ross Fenstermaker said. “We want to get to a point where he can sustain that velocity and feel comfortable to be able to reach back and get it when he needs it.”
Sborz tried to pitch on back-to-back days April 14-15. It did not go well. There seems to be some lingering side effects. After a shutout inning on April 14, to lower his ERA to 1.23, he lasted only one out the next day, allowing three runs on a hit and a pair of walks. Over the next three outings he allowed four homers, four walks and 10 runs in just four innings. He has not pitched in a game since April 25.
The Rangers are hopeful that Sborz can exit the program in the next two weeks and get back on the mound with more efficient mechanics that yield the same velocity without as much physical strain.
