JOSÉ LECLERC NEWS

Throws back-to-back days Leclerc struck out two over a scoreless inning in a Double-A game Thursday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Leclerc threw on back-to-back days for the first time this spring then dismissed any concerns over his decrease in velocity. "It's the same thing every year in spring training for me," Leclerc said. "But during the season, it picks up. It will be alright." Leclerc's fastball is living in the 92-93 mph range this spring after averaging over 96 in 2022. He remains the leading candidate to close games for the Rangers.

MARCH 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Velo down Leclerc's fastball ranged from 92 to 94 mph Wednesday, down from the 96.5 mph it averaged in 2022, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Leclerc finished off Wednesday's spring game for the save, so reduced velocity doesn't necessarily mean he can't close games. That's something manager Bruce Bochy understands and about which he's not concerned, according to Grant. Leclerc cut down on fastball usage last season while increasing his slider and changeup. What he needs to do is fool batters with the change or have them chasing sliders outside the zone. If not, Leclerc will get behind in counts and may throw fastballs in hitters' counts. He's walked four batters in 6.2 Cactus League innings, so there are signs trouble could occur, but he's managed to avoid damage (zero ERA). In the event Leclerc doesn't pan out as the closer, Bochy can use Will Smith or non-roster invitee Ian Kennedy to save games.

MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Escapes jam, creates another Leclerc allowed one hit and two walks while striking out three over 1.1 scoreless relief innings in Thursday's spring game against the Dodgers.

Impact Leclerc entered in the eighth inning and extricated the Rangers from a jam created by Marc Church. An inning later, Texas' probable closer had to escape a bases-loaded jam of his own making. The right-hander appears to be over the neck injury that paused his spring development for a week and has yet to allow a run over 4.1 Cactus League innings.

MARCH 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Makes 'B' game appearance Leclerc (neck) threw 14 pitches in a scoreless inning in a "B" game Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Leclerc allowed a bloop double but nothing else and his neck injury did not hinder him at all in the appearance. The reliever would seem to be ready for a Cactus League appearance next, although that hasn't been confirmed. Leclerc is competing for the Rangers' closer job and, if healthy, might be the favorite to win it.

MARCH 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throws bullpen Sunday Leclerc (neck) threw a bullpen session Sunday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Leclerc appeared in two Cactus League games before succumbing to neck stiffness. Sunday's session was his first since being shut down the middle of last week.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jose Leclerc Won't Play in WBC The Texas Rangers reliever won’t join Team Dominican Republic due to physical concerns.

MARCH 2, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Pulls out of World Baseball Classic Manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that Leclerc (neck) will no longer play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Leclerc is dealing with some left neck tightness, so he and the Rangers have decided it's best he skip the WBC. It is not clear when Leclerc might be cleared to return to Cactus League play. He is the favorite to open the season as the Rangers' primary closer.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with neck tightness Rangers general manager Chris Young said Wednesday that Leclerc is dealing with left neck discomfort, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Leclerc is currently scheduled to take part in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic, but Young said that the Rangers staff is evaluating how the injury might affect the reliever's participation. Whether Leclerc sits out the WBC or not, fantasy managers will still want to keep an eye on updates pertaining to the right-handed hurler, who looks to be the top option for saves out of the Texas bullpen to open the 2023 season.

MARCH 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Logs first spring inning Leclerc allowed one hit and walked one over a scoreless fourth inning in Monday's spring game against the Reds.

Impact Leclerc's appearance in the fourth inning, following starter Martin Perez's three-inning stint, indicates he's the team's closer, or at least part of the mix to save games. At this stage of the Cactus League, closers appear earlier in games when an opponent's best hitters are still in the lineup. Brock Burke, another candidate for saves, worked a scoreless seventh inning.

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Part of closer mix Texas manager Bruce Bochy said the team's closer situation is "somewhat fluid" then mentioned Leclerc's name first, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. "He's got great s...

Impact Leclerc has the most end-of-game experience among potential closers, which could also include Joe Barlow, Brock Burke and Jonathan Hernandez. Leclerc was effective over the final stages of 2022, converting seven of nine opportunities with a 1.38 ERA over 26 innings while holding hitters to a .482 OPS. He fanned 36 percent of the batters he faced from Aug. 1 forward. Consistent command remains the one big hurdle. Leclerc posted a 4.0 BB/9 last season, including 3.8 during that final effective stretch.

FEBRUARY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jose Leclerc on Team Dominican Republic Jose Leclerc will pitch for the Dominican Republic while working to lock down the Texas closer role in 2023.

FEBRUARY 10, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM

Closer frontrunner Leclerc appears to be the frontrunner to open the season as closer for the Rangers, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Impact As Weaver notes, Leclerc finished the 2022 season on a high note after returning from Tommy John surgery with a 2.83 ERA, 54:21 K:BB and seven saves. While he should be considered the favorite, Rangers general manager Chris Young mentioned several options as potential stoppers, including Jonathan Hernandez, Ian Kennedy and Joe Barlow. Leclerc will need to perform well in the Cactus League, but right now, he seems like the Texas reliever to target in fantasy for those searching for saves.

FEBRUARY 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rangers Spring Training Preview: Jose Leclerc Jose Leclerc returned to health in 2022 and eventually took over the closer role in the final two months of the season.

JANUARY 28, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Gets option picked up The Rangers exercised Leclerc's $6 million team option for 2023 on Wednesday.

Impact Leclerc missed most of the first two and a half months of the 2022 campaign while he recovered from last year's Tommy John surgery, but he re-emerged as a serviceable late-inning arm for Texas once he returned from the injured list. Over his 47.2 innings with Texas, Leclerc tallied a 2.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 54:21 K:BB. He finished the season as the Rangers' preferred end-game option and raked in seven saves in the process, and while he tentatively sits atop the bullpen depth chart at this early stage of the offseason, expect Texas to add some competition at the back end of the bullpen rather than handing Leclerc the closing gig outright.

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rangers 'Leaning Toward' Jose Leclerc's Option Jose Leclerc worked his way back from Tommy John surgery to be the Texas Rangers closer again.

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Rangers 40-Man Roster Wraps: Jose Leclerc The former closer returned to the Texas Rangers from Tommy John surgery in midseason and ended up with a solid season.

NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Picks up seventh save Leclerc allowed a hit but struck out the side to earn the save Thursday against the Angels.

Impact Leclerc allowed a one-out double but still recorded his seventh save of the season with relative ease. Since recording his first save of the campaign Aug. 7, Leclerc has maintained a 1.93 ERA with a 28:7 K:BB across 18.2 innings. He should remain a relatively consistent source of saves to close the campaign.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Seager's eighth-inning homer pushes Rangers past Angels 5-3

Corey Seager hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, helping the Texas Rangers top the Los Angeles Angels 5-3

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gets work in non-save situation Leclerc allowed one hit and struck out two over a scoreless ninth inning in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Angels.

Impact Leclerc, who hadn't pitched last Friday, was probably going to pitch regardless of the situation. As it was, the Rangers were leading 4-2 in the eighth inning, and he was warming up for what could have been a save. However, the Rangers plated three runs in the bottom of the frame, making it a non-save opportunity for the closer. The rust did not have an effect on Leclerc, who found the zone on 11 of his 14 pitches.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up save Leclerc picked up the save in Friday's 4-3 win over the Rays, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out none and walking one over one inning.

Impact Despite allowing a hit and a walk with no strikeouts, Leclerc was able to pick up the save Friday, his sixth of the season. It took him 25 pitches, and comes off the heels of a loss and blown save in his last appearance. He has two losses in his last five appearances, but also has four saves in his last six chances. Leclerc seems to be the favorite to earn saves in Texas and seems to have a long leash as well.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Blows save Wednesday Leclerc (0-3) took the loss and blew a save against the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out two batters in one inning.

Impact Leclerc entered in the ninth inning with Texas up by a run. He retired two of the first three batters he faced before giving up the game-tying run on a double by Vimael Machin. An error then allowed the go-ahead run to score, and Leclerc ended up with the loss when the Rangers couldn't scratch out a score in the bottom of the frame. It was the first blown save of the season for the right-hander, but his closer job figures to be secure given his prolonged run of strong pitching. Since the All-Star break, Leclerc has posted a 2.17 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 35:11 K:BB over 29 innings.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

A's rally for 2 in 9th, use Seager's error to beat Rangers

Stephen Vogt’s routine grounder with two outs in the ninth inning glanced off Texas shortstop Corey Seager’s glove, scoring the go-ahead run as the Oakland Athletics rallied past t...

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jays drop series finale to Rangers behind strong Perez start

Martin Perez allowed one run in six innings and Adolis Garcia homered for the second consecutive game as the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Sunday afternoon

SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bichette hits 5th HR in 4 games, Blue Jays beat Rangers 4-3

Bo Bichette homered for the fifth time in the last four games, Danny Jansen hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth inning and the playoff-contending Toronto Blue Jays beat Texas...

SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Seager scores go-ahead run as Rangers edge Valdez, Astros

Framber Valdez threw his 23rd straight quality start but Corey Seager scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch and the Texas Rangers snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 4-3 win...

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS