Sports

Kyle McClellan Advances in Texas Rangers Throwing Program

The Rangers will consider McClellan for two roles: fifth stater and long reliever.

North County native and Hazelwood West Alum Kyle McClellan signed on with the Texas Rangers' minor league team in January, but it seems he is showing and proving.

He is defined as a non-roster right-hander, and is now a candidate for two spots on the Texas Rangers’ staff: fifth stater and long reliever. Still, McClellan said his new opportunity is about re-establishing himself.

"I didn't sign here hoping I would have a better chance of starting," he told MLB.com. "I signed here because I felt it was a place my family would be more comfortable, there is an opportunity to win and it's an opportunity to reestablish myself.

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"The biggest thing is showing I'm healthy and can I can be a contributing piece to a Major League team."

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Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said McClellan has been cleared to fully participate in spring training.

He began throwing from a mound last week and although MLB.com defines him as 100 percent healed, The Dallas Morning News said as McClellan recovers from shoulder surgery, the club will move cautiously with him in the early stages of bouncing back.

McClellan underwent surgery in July while he was still a St. Louis Cardinal, to repair inflammation of the capsule and a torn labrum in the right shoulder. McClellan made his last major league appearance on May 17.

McClellan, 28, who went right into the minor leagues for the Cards upon high school graduation, was 12-7 with a 4.19 ERA in 2011. He had 17 starts and 26 relief appearances in that season, a World Series winning year for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals released McClellan in November of last year.

To read more about McClellan see:

  • McClellan Says He Might Never Pitch for Cards Again
  • Cardinals Pitcher Kyle McClellan: See You in 2013
  • Kyle McClellan Injured
  • Could Kyle McClellan Be Headed Out of St. Louis?
  • Hazelwood West's McClellan Works Out a One Year Deal to Remain a Cardinal
  • Kyle McClellan Among Six Honorees Being Inducted into the Hazelwood West High School Hall of Fame
  • St. Louis Cardinals Invade Hazelwood


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