There’s no coincidence that manager Chris Woodward declined to commit to Jose Leclerc as this year’s closer. Last year Leclerc had the role of the Rangers closer last season, but for this upcoming season, he’s been hit with a curveball.
Just a week into 2020 Leclerc was lost due to a shoulder injury, although he’s physically healthy again there’s not much to go off of due to him struggling in 2019.
Woodward doesn’t plan on naming a closer right now, as he believes the team has a few players they could put down for the closer. “I don’t think I’m going to name a closer right now. Whether the closer role means closing out a game one night and pitching two innings two days later, we just don’t know”. Woodward stated.
This doesn’t mean that closing is out of the picture for Jose Leclerc, but it does mean that there is no commitment. One notable name that may be a candidate is rookie Jonathan Hernandez who had a breakout rookie season but wasn’t used for a closer last year. Hernandez has an overall 7-2 win-loss record and 3.40 ERA.
There is always a different option and pitchers are one of the very few people who know that.
