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Sunday, April.28/2013

Rookie RHP Nick Tepesch has had an impressive start to the season with 14 SO over 21 Innings Pitched. The 24 Year Old man from Kansas City, Missouri was drafted in the 14th round by Texas in 2010 (same as Grimm).  After he spent two years in the Minor League system, never pitching above AA Frisco, he had a career ERA of 3.77, and had only recorded one shutout in his Minor League Career. Once LHP Martin Perez was set back by a hand injury, Tepesch was finally given his chance in the Majors.

By Brooke Robinson (Rangers Correspondent): Follow @bka_9

It’s the last weekend in April, we’re 23 games into the season, and the Texas Rangers are tied for the best record in baseball (16-7). Sounds a little bit like 2012 right?

The strange part is… they didn’t get there with the monster offense of the previous season. For about the first time since 1983- the Rangers have incredible pitching.

Tepesch’s Nearly unhittable on Apr.25/2013 Start

Rookie RHP Justin Grimm has greatly improved from his 2012 appearance to this season. In 2012, he was called up for a few Appearances, two of which he started. He was less than stellar to say the least. In 14 Innings Pitched last season, Grimm had 14 Earned Runs, allowed 22 Hits, 3 Walks, and Struck Out 13. So far in the 2013 season, he has pitched 17 Innings in the 3 games he has started – with 15 Ks and an incredible 1.59 ERA.

Outsiders might ask how they got to this point without star pitchers Colby Lewis and Matt Harrison. On paper, the team really isn’t supposed to be THIS good. But sometimes if you throw a couple Rookies into the rotation, they’ll dig down deep and give you a League-leading ERA of 2.77.

The team hasn’t had this good of pitching since Rick Honeycutt was in the rotation – a few short years ago. One can look no further than the young Starting Pitchers  Nick Tepesch and Justin Grimm.

After his first four starts (one of which was shortened by a hard hit up the middle that hit his hand) Tepesch has pitched 21 Innings. Yes, that’s an average of a little over five innings per start. The Right-Hander has 14 Ks to his 3 BBs, and a 2.53 ERA.

In their back to back starts this week, the two Rookies pitched at least 6.2 Innings, allowed no more than one Run, and zero Walks.

If the month of April says anything it would be this: the Rangers baseball organization clearly has depth. Maybe the best in baseball. If this month is any indicator of the next five to follow, it’s going to be a long season for the other members of the AL West.

LHP Joseph Ortiz has had an incredible April on the mound, earning the nickname “Fearless Joe” from Texas fans. Probably the most notable rookie, and my personal favorite, is LHP Joseph Ortiz. Besides his 5’7″ stature and Minnie Mouse backpack that he sports before games, Ranger fans have favored him for his fearlessness on the mound. Ortiz (who signed for 3K in 2006) Struck Out the 240 Million Dollar Pujols and the 125 Million Dollar Hamilton with the bases loaded in the extra Inning loss to LAA this week. Through 13 IP this season, he has 12 Strikeouts and a 2.77 ERA.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***

A big thank-you goes out to our ‘Rangers Correspondent’ Brooke Robinson for preparing today’s featured article. Brooke is a junior Sport Management major at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

She is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. Spending time at the Texas Rangers spring training facility in Arizona and seeing all of the prospects are what she loves most about baseball. Feel free to follow Brooke on twitter and talk the game of baseball with her. Follow @bka_9

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