SURPRISE, Ariz. – A year ago, Marc Church was in the midst of a dominant spring that pushed him on to the Rangers opening day roster with hopes he could finish the season in a high leverage role.
That seems so long ago.
Since then, he’s dealt with an oblique strain, elbow inflammation and ultimately a torn teres major muscle in the back of his shoulder that limited what should have been a dream season to a 12-inning nightmarish cycle of rehabbing to pitch only to end up rehabbing again.
But he’s close to ending the nightmare and getting back into games. Church 24, threw live batting practice on Saturday, hitting 97 mph with his fastball; he’d been up to 98 earlier in the week in a bullpen session. The next step: A minor league exhibition or two before getting in “A” games with about 10 days to go before opening day rosters are set.
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“It’s the new and improved me,” Church said Sunday. “I’ve seen what the top level is and I’ve had a lot of time to think and work on what it takes to get back. I think it’s helped give me more of a sense of self. You have to have faith in yourself. I’m not going to pitch to try to open up eyes; I’m doing it for myself, for the love of the game and to try to master the art of pitching.
“I want to show growth and improvement. I’m not trying to prove myself. I’m trying to improve myself.”
Church’s high-octane fastball, which he complements with a slider, is something the Rangers lack in the bullpen. The Rangers had hoped that Emiliano Teodo, who has been down with a back issue and already sent to minor league camp, or Church could potentially offer that option. In their absence, Gavin Collyer, who pitched two innings Saturday against San Francisco, has helped put himself on the radar. Of note: Collyer hit 99.3 mph in his first inning and 96.8 mph in his second inning.
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