Kyle Cody #54

Kyle David Cody…he and his fiancé, Courtney O’Keefe, were engaged on 12/11/20…signed with Texas on 6/15/16 after he was selected in the 6th round of the 2016 June draft following his senior year at the University of Kentucky…went 6-2 with a 3.35 ERA (31 ER/83.1 IP) and 75 strikeouts over 14 starts in his final season for the Wildcats, including a 4-1 record and 2.77 ERA in 10 starts vs. SEC opponents…departed Lexington tied for the 11th-most strikeouts (205) in school history…Baseball America rated the right-hander as the 83rd-best prospect in the draft…was also selected by Minnesota (2nd round in 2015) following his junior season in college and by Philadelphia (33rd round in 2012) following his senior year of high school, but did not sign…was selected 2012 Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year at McDonell Central Catholic (Wis.) High School…also played quarterback on the school’s football team…father, Gene, owned two different dairy equipment businesses in Wisconsin…participated in the Rangers Virtual Winter Caravan this past offseason.

2020

Opened spring training in Major League camp and began the regular season at the Alternate Training Site…was recalled by Texas prior to game on 8/20 at SD and made his Major League debut in relief the next day, 8/21 at SEA (1.0 SHO IP, 3 SO)...was the 1st Texas pitcher to whiff all three batters faced in his 1st inning in the Majors since Pete Fairbanks on 6/9/19 vs. OAK...recorded 4.1 SHO IP in three relief outings before joining the rotation in early September, working on a limited pitch count… went 1-1, 1.96 (4 ER/18.1 IP) in five September starts and was selected Texas Rangers September Player of the Month by the writers and broadcasters that cover the team on a regular basis…became the 1st rookie to win a Rangers’ monthly award since RHP Tommy Hunter in July 2009…led pitching staff (min. 20.0 IP) in ERA (1st), HR/9 (1st, 0.40) and opp. BA (1st, .190)… opp. slashed .190/.304/.278/.583 (15-79)…left-handed batters were 4-for-30 (.133), while righties hit to a .224 BA (11-49).

EARLY RETURNS: Earned his 1st Major League win in the Rangers’ 7-2 victory on 9/20 at LAA (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R-ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 61 pitches/46 strikes)...threw the fewest pitches (61) of any TEX starter to earn a win in the pitch-tracking era (since 1988)... with catcher Sam Huff hitting his 1st ML HR in the game, marked the 2nd time in Rangers history for the starting pitcher to earn his 1st ML win and the starting catcher to hit his 1st ML home run in the same game (credit Elias Sports Bureau)...the other instance was 5/9/02 vs. CWS (pitcher Joaquin Benoit, catcher Héctor Ortiz)...Cody/Huff were the 1st duo to accomplish the feat in MLB since TOR’s Scott Richmond (pitcher) and Curtis Thigpen (catcher) did so on 9/26/08 at BAL…completed season-high 5.0 IP in final two starts (9/20 at LAA and 9/25 vs. HOU) after he had not logged 5.0+ IP in any professional game since 9/3/17 at Buies Creek (W, 6.0 IP, 1 R-ER) with High-A Down East.

2019

Spent the entire season on the minor league injured list…was selected to the Major League roster on Nov. 20 as protection from the Rule 5 Draft...entered the season at no. 24 on Baseball America's list of top Rangers prospects.