He threw the last pitch of the '23 World Series. Now he's fighting for a roster spot

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Josh Sborz spent his offseason throwing at a middle school in Southlake, Texas, with a kid that goes to Grapevine High School.

That obviously wasn’t by design. It was a far cry from the Rangers’ facilities at Globe Life Field. It wasn’t a particularly ideal situation. But after he was non-tendered in November, he had to make do.

“Like a month before camp started, I was like, ‘I probably should find somewhere to sign, because I can't keep training in small gyms,’” Sborz recalled. “I elected to come back here, and it was mutual. I wasn't really holding any grudges for them. I understood it. Relievers get replaced all the time. I didn't show them that I deserved to stay.”

Sborz -- who threw the final pitch of the 2023 World Series -- did not pitch in the Majors in 2025 while recovering from right shoulder surgery. He pitched in four seasons for Texas from 2021-24, posting a 4.86 ERA and becoming a club legend in the ‘23 postseason when he allowed just one run over 12 innings (an 0.75 ERA).

He’s hardly touched a mound since.

He struggled through various arm and shoulder injuries for much of the last two seasons and was limited to 16 1/3 innings in 2024. In November 2024, he had a debridement procedure on his right shoulder in hopes that would remedy his issues. But multiple ramp-up attempts in 2025 stalled out, leading to a lost season and a non-tender this past winter.

“I think the first goal I immediately had in the offseason was to find something that made my arm feel better,” Sborz said. “I think being in pain most of the time for the last two years, I was just trying to throw the ball and be comfortable. I think that created some pretty bad habits, and that's what I'm trying to fight through right now.”

Now pain-free, and back with the Rangers on a Minor League deal, Sborz is trying to prove to the Rangers once again that he can contribute to a big league bullpen.

“I didn't really know where he would be when he came into camp, to be honest with you,” said manager Skip Schumaker. “He said he worked really hard in the offseason to try to get the velo back. He could always spin the ball. … He can always steal a strike spinning the ball. I think his putaway pitches are spinning the ball, but for guys to think about the 93-94 again, credit to him and how hard he's worked.”

The velocity is going to be the biggest indicator of Sborz’s health and consistency. When he was attempting to return in 2025, his four-seam velocity was consistently sitting in the low 90s, well below what it was at when he was at his best in 2023.

His four-seamer sat between 96-97 mph from 2021-23. In limited appearances in 2024, it averaged 95.1 mph.

“I think it's about location and changing speeds,” Schumaker said. “He can spin the ball. Of course he wants another couple ticks. He's not there yet. But he's continuing to get stronger. He still knows how to get outs in the big leagues. He's been there before. He competes. You see how he is on the mound. The presence is real, and he’s had big moments, obviously, for this organization. I don't think he's satisfied at all, but I do feel like we’re really pleased with where he's at.”

At this point, Sborz is just making up for lost time, having gone nearly two full seasons without any big league innings. So far in Cactus League play, his four-seamer has sat around 92-94 mph, but has touched 95-96 at times.

Now he needs to continue on that trajectory.

“He's done all that he's [been] asked to do,” Schumaker said. “We'll see where it ends up here … I told him that he was one of the guys I was most excited to see coming into camp for a reason. We need guys with stuff like his in the bullpen. He's going to be throwing either back-to-backs or multiple innings here coming up soon, and then we'll see. But he's done everything [that's been] asked of him to do.”