Cody Bradford, a left-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers, is targeting a return to the MLB in May after undergoing elbow surgery. Bradford, a local product who attended Baylor, made his debut in a swing role in 2023, showing promise in his second year. However, he missed the first half of the 2024 season due to a back injury. Upon his return, Bradford pitched well, posting a 3.54 earned run average with a 23% strikeout rate and a 4.2% walk percentage. He had a strong chance to open the 2025 season in the rotation, but reported elbow soreness during Spring Training, leading to a diagnosis of UCL damage and subsequent surgery. The internal brace procedure allows for a quicker recovery compared to the full Tommy John surgery, with Bradford aiming to return to the MLB in May. The Rangers' pitching depth is currently limited, with an excellent top three of Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and Jack Leiter, but the team is focusing on deepening the pitching before Opening Day. Some kind of addition is expected, and the team may wait out the market to grab a fifth starter/swing type for a few million dollars during Spring Training.
