Which Rangers pitcher was bit by the Tommy John bug?
Cody Bradford, a young star within the Texas Rangers organization, will have season-ending elbow surgery.
Chris Young, the Texas Rangers president of baseball operations, announced Tuesday that Bradford will undergo Tommy John surgery. The 27-year-old left-handed pitcher debuted with the Rangers in 2023, posted a 5.30 ERA in 56 innings pitched.
Prior to the start of this season, many expected Bradford to compete for a spot in the starting rotation. Bradford was coming off of a decent 2024 campaign in which he posted a 3.54 ERA in 76 1/3 innings despite missing a lot of the season due a lower back strain.
The Rangers shut Bradford down in spring training back in March after due to elbow soreness. Despite the MRI being clean, the Rangers shut Bradford down for a month.
Bradford had recently been throwing bullpen sessions and live batting practice. However, last week, it was reported that Bradford may have experienced renewed soreness and the surgery was then recommended. Bradford will miss the rest of the 2025 season and possibly most of the 2026 season.
Bradford pitched for Aledo High School and posted an 0.64 ERA during his senior season in 2016 before heading off to Waco to pitch for Baylor University. Bradford also graduated valedictorian of his high school.
In three seasons with the Bears, Bradford posted a career ERA of 3.86, earning 2018 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All Big 12 Honors after posting a 2.51 ERA during his sophomore campaign. Bradford was also named a Third-Team All American by Collegiate Baseball.
The Rangers selected Bradford in the sixth round of the 2019 draft.
After starting 2023 with a 5-0record with the Round Rock Express and earning Triple A Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month in April, the Rangers promoted Bradford to the Major Leagues on May 23. Bradford began the season in the Rangers starting rotation in 2024, but was placed on the injured list in April after posting a 1.40 ERA and going 3-0 due to back soreness.
The loss of Bradford is a hit to the Rangers’ rotation. However, the team owns the league’s third lowest ERA with a 3.27.
