TCU alum Cashner excited to return home to Texas with Rangers

Right-hander Andrew Cashner was ready to return home to Texas.

The former TCU standout, who played for the Horned Frogs in 2008 and grew up and still lives near Conroe, was thrilled to be formally introduced Monday by the Texas Rangers. Cashner, who is entering his eighth season in the big leagues in 2017, signed a one-year deal for $10 million.

“It’s always been a dream to play back in Texas,” said Cashner, who spent almost five seasons with the San Diego Padres before being traded to the Miami Marlins in July. “I carry a lot of pride being from here. I went to school at TCU [2008 season] down the road and [wanted] the chance to get back here and play in front of a lot of fans and people I know.”

Cashner missed time in 2016 with a strained right hamstring and neck strain. He went 5-11 with a 5.25 ERA, his highest in seven major league seasons. The Rangers and Cashner are hoping the personnel and “culture” of the organization help him rediscover the success he showed in spurts between 2013-15 with the Padres, including a 2.55 ERA in 19 starts in 2014.

“I really do believe sometimes there’s a right fit with the person and the athlete,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “The coaching staff, teammates and the community, with his Texas ties, his Texas roots and pride playing here in his home state.”

The Rangers have looked at acquiring Cashner in the past.

“He’s an extremely talented individual, great makeup,” Daniels said. “I know a lot about him from various connections throughout the years. [We] tried to acquire him a few times in the past and finally got it right.”

Cashner, who turned 30 in September, hopes a minor alteration in his delivery of staying on top of the baseball will help him regain his form.

“This is where I wanted to play. I didn’t have the season I wanted to have this last year,” he said. “I had an injury and I think there’s some mechanical things I can fix to get where I want to be, but this is where I wanted to play. I told my agent to get it done, this is where I want to be.”

He has no lingering effects from the recent injuries.

“My delivery is clean, everything is fine. When I get my hand on top of the baseball good things happen. The ball spins different,” he said.

He still talks with friends at TCU, including coach Jim Schlossnagle, who sent him a text when word broke he was coming to the Rangers.

“I talk to him quite a bit. Everybody keeps in touch, and there are a lot of guys in the big leagues right now,” Cashner said.

He doesn’t expect to join the growing group of former Horned Frogs players in the major leagues that call Fort Worth home: “I spend my time in the woods.”

This story was originally published November 21, 2016 at 7:50 PM with the headline "TCU alum Cashner excited to return home to Texas with Rangers."