Rangers Pitcher Josh Sborz Remains With Team, Continues Rehab at Triple-A

The former World Series hero is working his way back from shoulder surgery and hopes to rejoin the major league roster soon.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:18am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion, with sharp planes of navy blue, forest green, and burnt orange overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract composition.A cubist interpretation of a pitcher's throwing motion captures the complexity of the rehabilitation process for an injured relief pitcher.St. Petersburg Today

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Josh Sborz has remained with the team after clearing waivers and exercising an assignment clause in his contract. Sborz, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, is continuing his rehab stint at the team's Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock. The Rangers are hopeful that Sborz will regain his velocity and effectiveness in the coming weeks and rejoin the major league roster before his next opt-out opportunity in mid-June.

Why it matters

Sborz was a key contributor out of the Rangers' bullpen during their World Series run in 2025, and the team is counting on him to provide a boost once he's fully healthy. His successful return could help solidify the team's relief corps as they aim to make another playoff push.

The details

Sborz, 31, has been working his way back from shoulder surgery and has been pitching for the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock. He recently exercised an assignment clause in his contract, which means he could have been claimed by another team, but no teams put in a claim. The Rangers are still hoping to see Sborz's velocity and effectiveness improve so he can be available to pitch on consecutive days. In his most recent back-to-back outings, his velocity dropped sharply from 95 mph to 93 mph, and he struggled, retiring only one of the four batters he faced.

  • On Wednesday, Sborz triggered the assignment clause in his contract.
  • The Rangers had until Friday afternoon to either promote Sborz to the majors or allow another team to claim him.
  • Sborz's next chance to opt out of his contract will come in mid-June.

The players

Josh Sborz

A 31-year-old relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers who is recovering from shoulder surgery and working his way back to the major league roster.

Texas Rangers

The professional baseball team based in Arlington, Texas that plays in the American League West division of Major League Baseball.

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What’s next

The Rangers will continue to monitor Sborz's progress at Triple-A Round Rock, and they are hopeful that he will regain his velocity and effectiveness in the coming weeks so he can rejoin the major league roster before his next opt-out opportunity in mid-June.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the Rangers' commitment to bringing Sborz back slowly and carefully from his shoulder surgery, as they see him as an important piece of their bullpen when healthy. The team's patience and investment in Sborz's recovery could pay off if he's able to regain his pre-injury form and contribute to the team's playoff push.