Emiliano

Teodo

Teodo is coming off a disappointing 2025 season where he dealt with injury and an inability to throw strikes, but he has an electric arm and could help Texas before the end of 2026. Crismatt likely has an opt-out, so he’ll have a choice to either report to Triple-A or elect free agency.

They’re the first runs he’s allowed in 6 2/3 innings this season, so he’s still potentially in play for an early callup. Although Teodo had great success as a starter in Double-A last year, the Rangers have decided to keep him in the pen following his strong showing this spring. He’ll probably be part of the setup, or maybe even the closing mix, for Texas before long.

The Rangers have expressed a desire to continue developing Teodo as a starter, but he looks like a potential lights-out relief arm thanks to his triple-digit fastball velocity and hard-biting slider. The flamethrowing 24-year-old is basically a two-pitch prospect at this point, which is why he probably makes more sense in a high-leverage role. He’s a name to watch in deeper mixed leagues on the chance that Texas decides to give him a shot at closing in the near future.

Some were hoping the Rangers might make Teodo their closer, but while that could be the long-term plan, it’s obviously not happening on Opening Day. Fellow rookie Marc Church is still around and could be part of the late-game mix with Chris Martin. It hasn’t yet been said whether Teodo will remain a starter in the minors for now.

There was some enthusiasm that Teodo could make the MLB club as a reliever, given how electric he has looked at times this spring; however, that doesn’t appear to be the case. “He’s partly on the outside looking in,” said Bochy. “The stuff works, he’s been starting. But I like him coming from the ‘pen, too. There’s not a lot of arms like this. I think he’s knocking on the door.” The Rangers need to decide the best path forward for the 24-year-old because they still believe in him as a starter, so they might prefer that he remain a starter at Triple-A to begin the season. It’s hard to argue that since he posted a 1.98 ERA in 19 starts for Double-A Frisco last year.

Teodo is the dark horse candidate this spring to emerge as a legitimate closing candidate for the Rangers along with veteran Chris Martin. The hard-throwing 24-year-old was excellent last year at Double-A Frisco as a starter, posting a microscopic 1.98 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 110/50 K/BB ratio across 86 1/3 innings (20 appearances, 19 starts). His overpowering stuff has translated extremely well in shorter bursts out of the bullpen this spring and it wouldn’t be shocking if he made Texas’ season-opening bullpen in a high-leverage role.

We typically don’t spend a ton of time highlighting relief pitchers in spring training, but Jackson deserves some recognition since he’s struck out five batters over two scoreless frames in Cactus League action. The 33-year-old veteran signed a one-year deal with the Rangers and has been extremely effective, when healthy, the past few years. It wouldn’t be shocking if he were involved in Texas’ high-leverage mix along with Chris Martin and Robert Garcia. The dark horse closing candidate to continue monitoring is hard-throwing top prospect Emiliano Teodo, who has looked extremely impressive this spring.

Teodo had his session cut short Saturday after feeling right thumb soreness, but it was clearly precautionary. The right-hander has a chance to make starts for the Rangers in 2025 after putting up outstanding numbers for Double-A Frisco in 2024.

Teodo, who had a 1.98 ERA in 86 1/3 innings as a starter in Double-A last season, is considered day-to-day.

Teodo is now officially protected from selection in next month’s Rule 5 Draft, where he certainly would’ve been gobbled up by another club. He was a revelation last season at Double-A Frisco, compiling a microscopic 1.98 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 110/50 K/BB ratio across 86 1/3 innings (20 appearances, 19 starts). The hard-throwing 23-year-old righty, who started the All-Star Futures Game back in July, projects as a potential impact high-leverage reliever for fantasy purposes at the highest level. He’s a name to watch, especially in dynasty leagues, if he makes the transition to a full-time relief role.