One of the overlooked candidates in the starting rotation derby going on in Texas Rangers spring training appears to have been overlooked for a reason.
Nick Tepesch, who surprisingly entered the 2013 season in the Rangers' rotation after a solid spring hasn't had the same luck this spring. He had a shot at least two rotation spots open heading into spring training thanks to injuries and slow rehab processes, but has struggled this spring and on Monday the Rangers sent him to Triple-A Round Rock.
Tepesch has allowed 17 hits in his last five innings of work in Cactus League play, and his spring ERA is now up to 11.25 with 10 earned runs allowed in eight innings of work.
“Obviously, it wasn’t as good as last spring,” Tepesch told The Dallas Morning News. “But last year was last year. Maybe last year’s performance did something to help me make the roster, but that had no bearing on my performance this year. My command hasn’t been where it needs to be. I feel like I’ve been down in the zone, just not down enough.”
Last season, Tepesch had a great April before tailing off every month thereafter before eventually being bumped out of the rotation and bouncing back and forth between Arlington and the minors.
