Less than a year after posting a dominant 0.75 ERA over 12 innings in the 2023 postseason, pitcher Josh Sborz has been released by the Texas Rangers. A crucial part of their World Series victory, Sborz's swift departure shows that even peak performance offers no job security when injury and catastrophic minor league struggles signal decline.
His future in MLB appears uncertain, likely requiring significant recovery and rehabilitation before he can return to a major league roster.
Recent Struggles in Triple-A
His demotion to Triple-A Round Rock proved disastrous. In 16.1 minor-league innings to start 2026, Sborz posted a 7.16 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP, according to CBS Sports. He surrendered 13 runs, six home runs, and nine walks across 14 1/3 innings at Triple-A, as reported by MLB Trade Rumors, with a concerning 17:12 K:BB ratio. These numbers paint a grim picture: Sborz wasn't just struggling; he was actively losing command and getting hit hard, even against minor league hitters, making his return to the majors improbable without a significant turnaround.
Injury Hampered 2024 Season
Arm and shoulder injuries limited Sborz to just 16 1/3 innings in 2024, per MLB. These physical setbacks, coupled with poor outings upon his return, created an untenable situation. In professional baseball, sentiment yields to immediate value; the Rangers, prioritizing roster flexibility, cut ties with a recent champion, a stark reminder of the sport's ruthless calculus.
From Postseason Hero to Release
The contrast is jarring: Sborz allowed just one run over 12 innings in the 2023 postseason, posting a 0.75 ERA, MLB reported. This dramatic swing from postseason dominance to a catastrophic 7.16 ERA in just 16.1 minor league innings reveals the extreme precariousness of a reliever's career. Past glory offers little protection; a brief period of injury and poor performance can negate peak heroics in MLB.
Having posted a 4.86 ERA across four seasons with the Rangers from 2021-2024, per MLB, Sborz's inconsistent regular-season performance, compounded by injury, ultimately made him expendable. Now a free agent, his path back to a major league roster appears challenging, likely requiring a rehabilitation assignment or a non-guaranteed deal to prove his health and effectiveness to another organization.
