Date | News | Comment |
Jun 27 2025 | Bradford (elbow) underwent an internal brace procedure Wednesday to repair his left UCL, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford avoided traditional Tommy John surgery, instead undergoing the internal brace procedure. While there isn't a timeline for his return, the expectation is that Bradford will pitch sometime during the 2026 campaign. Considering Bradford didn't pitch in a game this season, Texas will likely be extra cautious in bringing him back. |
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Jun 24 2025 | Bradford will undergo season-ending surgery Wednesday to repair the UCL in his left elbow, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford had appeared close to beginning a rehab assignment, but the Rangers announced that the southpaw encountered a significant setback and will require surgery. It won't be known until the operation whether Bradford will need Tommy John surgery or an internal brace procedure. The latter would give him a better chance of contributing at some point next season, while the former could potentially knock him out until 2027. |
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Jun 18 2025 | Bradford (elbow) could be ready to make his season debut by early July, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Coming back from a left elbow sprain, Bradford has been throwing off a mound for several weeks and seems to be close to being cleared for a rehab assignment. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said last week that he hoped the southpaw would be stretched out to five innings by July 4, and if that happens, Bradford could be ready to rejoin the big-league rotation at that point. The left-hander held a 3.54 ERA and 70:13 K:BB over 76.1 frames in 2024 and makes for a good stash in deeper fantasy leagues. |
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Jun 11 2025 | Bradford (elbow) threw 22 pitches during Wednesday's bullpen session, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters that Bradford looked good during his session, and the aim is for the southpaw to be stretched out to five innings by July 4. Bradford started the season on the injured list after being diagnosed with a left elbow sprain in mid-March. He'll need to toss multiple bullpen sessions without setbacks before embarking on a rehab assignment, during which time the Rangers would have a better idea of a timeline for Bradford's return. |
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Jun 10 2025 | Bradford (elbow) will throw a bullpen session at Target Field on Wednesday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford has slowly been working his way back from a sprained UCL in his left elbow that has sidelined him since March 12, and he has been throwing bullpen sessions for nearly a month. The team has been taking a cautious approach with the left-hander's recovery, and it's possible that he is on the cusp of a potential minor-league rehab assignment. Bradford remains on track for a return at some point in July, with the All-Star break being a reasonable target date. |
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Jun 9 2025 | Bradford (elbow) threw breaking balls during a May 31 bullpen session and is hopeful to resume facing hitters this week during the Rangers' road series in Minnesota, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford has thrown multiple bullpen sessions over the past month and has gradually increased the volume and intensity of those workouts while also incorporating more breaking pitches. The southpaw has been on the shelf all season with a left elbow sprain, but he noted after his May 31 side session that his "UCL is repaired back to normal." Assuming the Rangers plan to have Bradford get stretched back out as a starter whenever he's cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, he may not be ready to return from the injured list until shortly before or after the All-Star break. |
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May 12 2025 | Bradford (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Thursday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: To this point, Bradford has been limited to throwing fastballs and changeups on flat ground. While he has not yet been cleared to spin breaking balls, the left-hander is encouraged with his progress from a sprained UCL in his pitching elbow. Bradford is on the 60-day injured list, and it will likely be a few weeks before a timetable for his 2025 debut with the Rangers becomes clearer. |
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May 1 2025 | Bradford (elbow) threw from 90 feet on flat ground this week, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander will begin throwing breaking balls next week and believes he will be ready to throw off a mound within the next three weeks. That timeline suggests Bradford will not be back before the end of May, but he is making progress. The southpaw is on the 60-day injured list and working his way back from a left elbow sprain. |
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Apr 8 2025 | The Rangers transferred Bradford (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford is still working his way back from a sprained left elbow that he suffered during spring training. He won't be eligible to return until late May at the earliest. |
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Mar 28 2025 | The Rangers placed Bradford (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford has been diagnosed with a left elbow sprain since being scratched from a Cactus League start March 12, with manager Bruce Bochy relaying that the southpaw would be shut down from throwing for four weeks. Even if Bradford is cleared to begin a throwing program by mid-April, he'll likely need at least another month to get stretched back out and complete a rehab assignment. Any setback along the way would make him a candidate to move to the 60-day IL. |
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Mar 15 2025 | Manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday that Bradford (elbow) will be shut down from throwing for four weeks, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bochy's comments confirm that Bradford is not looking at a minimum-length stay on the injured list, as the left-hander will likely need significant time to build back up once his no-throw period is over. With Jon Gray (wrist) also slated to miss the beginning of the season, Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker are both likely to join the Rangers' Opening Day rotation. |
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Mar 13 2025 | Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that Bradford (elbow) will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: An MRI on Bradford's left elbow came back negative for structural damage, but he will be shut down for up to 10 days to allow the soreness to subside. The left-hander will need to rebuild his stamina after that, so it's possible he'll require longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker are the primary candidates to fill Bradford's slot in Texas' rotation. |
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Mar 12 2025 | Rangers general manager Chris Young said that Bradford has been scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start Wednesday against the Reds due to left elbow soreness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. Bradford will be shut down for four or five days before resuming his throwing program. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: An elbow injury at this stage of spring training puts Bradford at risk of not being ready for Opening Day, but the Rangers will wait and see how the southpaw responds to a few days of rest before determining his next steps. On a positive note, Young relayed that Bradford underwent an MRI on his elbow, which came back clean. If healthy, Bradford would seemingly have the inside track on a spot at the back end of the Texas rotation to open the season. However, if Bradford requires a stint on the injured list, the door would be open for either Kumar Rocker or Dane Dunning to break camp in a starting role. |
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Mar 1 2025 | Bradford allowed three hits and one walk while striking out three over three scoreless inning in Friday's spring start against the Cubs. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was Bradford's second Cactus League start, and the left-hander upped his pitch count to 48 (34 strikes). Among those 48 pitches, 26 were the four-seam fastball, which induced eight called strikes or whiffs, per Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News. "Extension helps a lot," the 27-year-old said of his fastball. "It's got a little bit of a hop. There's some vert to it. It's pretty efficient. And, probably, I'd say, command [makes a difference]." Bradford looks primed to push for a rotation spot; he's yet to allow a run over five innings this spring, striking out five and walking one. |
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Feb 24 2025 | Bradford allowed one hit and struck out two over two scoreless innings in Sunday's spring game against the Cubs. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford, who could land in the rotation or the bullpen, submitted evidence during his Cactus League debut of his worthiness to be a starter in the regular season. Sixteen of his 24 pitches were strikes, which impressed manager Bruce Bochy. "Outstanding, wasn't he?" Bochy told Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports. "Really nice job, throwing his strikes, Cody was Cody today. Good day for him." The left-hander pitched well in 2024 when healthy, posting a 3.54 ERA over 14 outings (13 starts). |
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Feb 13 2025 | Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that it's possible Bradford opens the season in the bullpen, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford is coming to camp as a starting pitcher and would seem to have a good shot to begin the season as a member of the Rangers' rotation. However, the left-hander also has relief experience and could be used there if a pitcher like Kumar Rocker stakes claim to a rotation spot. Bradford has minor-league options remaining, but Bochy indicated the southpaw is virtually a lock to make the Opening Day roster. |
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Sep 26 2024 | Bradford did not factor into the decision in a win over Oakland on Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits and three walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out four. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford struggled with his command out of the gate, allowing two hits in each of the first two innings while also allowing a runner to advance on a wild pitch in the third. The southpaw was later relieved by Matt Festa with two outs in the fourth after the former reached 90 pitches on the night. Bradford has now failed to make it through four innings in two of his last three starts after previously going five or more innings in six straight. On a positive note, he's also given up one run or fewer in three of his last four outings. |
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Sep 19 2024 | Bradford (6-3) picked up the win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing five hits and no walks over seven scoreless frames while striking out six. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford had a no-hitter going through the first four innings before Alejandro Kirk tagged him for a single to lead off the fifth. The southpaw would get through the frame unscathed, however, and allowed just two batters to reach second base during his seven innings on the mound. It marked Bradford's second time this season in which he held the opposing team scoreless through six or more frames, and he's now posted quality starts in six of his last seven outings. He's 2-1 through three starts in September with a 4.86 ERA to go along with a 14:2 K:BB. |
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Sep 12 2024 | Bradford (5-3) took the loss Wednesday, coughing up eight runs on nine hits -- including three home runs -- over 3.2 innings as the Rangers were routed 14-4 by the Diamondbacks. He struck out four without walking a batter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw gave up six extra-base hits in total, including long balls by Randal Grichuk, Eugenio Suarez and Ketel Marte. It's the first time Bradford has served up multiple homers in an outing since Aug. 3, while it's the first time he's been tagged for more than three runs since July 30. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Blue Jays. |
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Sep 6 2024 | Bradford (5-2) allowed one run on two hits and two walks over six innings while striking out four in a win over the Angels on Thursday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford was efficient and only found himself in trouble in the third inning after allowing two of the first three batters to reach base, which would lead to one run coming home for Los Angeles. He would throw three consecutive 1-2-3 innings from that point on before being relieved by Jose Leclerc to open the seventh. It marked the southpaw's fifth straight quality start and his first win in his last five outings. Over that stretch he carries a 2.81 ERA to go along with a 25:6 K:BB. |
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Sep 1 2024 | Bradford came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 3-2 win over the A's, giving up two runs on four hits over seven innings. He struck out eight without walking a batter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw reeled off his fourth straight quality start on 97 pitches (68 strikes), but Bradford left the mound with the score tied 2-2 before Leody Taveras walked it off with a single in the bottom of the ninth. Bradford posted an impressive 3.12 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 33:5 K:BB through 34.2 innings in August, but he had just one win to show for his efforts. The Rangers expect to get Jacob deGrom (elbow) and Tyler Mahle (shoulder) back in September, and potentially even Max Scherzer (shoulder) too, but it's hard to imagine Bradford moving back to the bullpen given his current form. He lines up to make his next start at home next weekend against the Angels. |
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Aug 25 2024 | Bradford (4-2) yielded two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over six innings Sunday, striking out three and taking a loss against Cleveland. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford gave up a run in each of the first two innings but settled in to deliver his third straight quality start. After a 4-0 start through seven outings, he's lost two straight starts despite giving up just four earned runs over 13 innings during that span. He's sporting a 3.31 ERA with an impressive 44:8 K:BB through 49 innings. Bradford's next outing is projected to be at home against Oakland. |
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Aug 21 2024 | Bradford (4-1) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on five hits over seven innings as the Rangers were downed 4-0 by the Pirates. He struck out eight without walking a batter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw had only one bad frame -- he served up four hits including a double and a triple in the fourth inning -- but that was one more hit than Texas batters managed on the entire night against Mitch Keller and the Pittsburgh bullpen. Bradford has made seven starts this season and four of them have been quality starts, while Tuesday's eight Ks were a season high. Since returning to the rotation in August, he's produced a 3.74 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 22:3 K:BB in 21.2 innings. Bradford will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in Cleveland. |
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Aug 16 2024 | Bradford did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Twins on Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings while striking out two. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw got tagged for a leadoff homer by Willi Castro and a Kyle Farmer triple to open the second inning, with the latter resulting in a second run for Minnesota following a fielding error by Leody Taveras. However, Bradford would then keep the Twins off the scoreboard over the next four frames before being relieved by Jose Leclerc to begin the seventh. It marked Bradford's third quality start of the campaign and his first since April 10 against the Athletics. He's allowed three or fewer runs in all three of his starts this month, posting a 14:3 K:BB over that stretch. |
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Aug 15 2024 | Bradford is slated to start Thursday's game against the Twins at Globe Life Field. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford will be making a third consecutive appearance as a starter, an unexpected development after the Rangers moved him to the bullpen during his minor-league rehab assignment before he was activated from the 60-day injured list July 29. However, with injuries to Jon Gray (groin), Max Scherzer (shoulder) and Nathan Eovaldi (oblique) having since tested the Rangers' starting depth, Bradford looks like he could have a pathway to a rotation spot. Bradford has turned in a solid 12:1 K:BB while allowing four earned runs over 8.2 innings across his last two starts, and a strong outing Thursday should be enough to keep him ahead of Jose Urena and Dane Dunning in the rotation pecking order. Even though Eovaldi is expected to avoid an IL stint, the Rangers should have room in the rotation for two of Bradford, Urena and Dunning until at least two of Gray, Scherzer or Jacob deGrom (elbow) return from the IL. |
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Aug 11 2024 | Bradford (4-0) picked up the win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Yankees, allowing one run on five hits over five innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw was sharp in his second start since rejoining the Rangers rotation, tossing 61 of 92 pitches for strikes and tying his season high in Ks. Bradford has yet to issue multiple free passes in any of his six big-league appearances this season, posting a 31:4 K:BB through 30 innings to go along with a 3.60 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. With Nathan Eovaldi (side) leaving the matinee early and Texas dealing with multiple other injured starters. Bradford could remain in the rotation for a little while longer. |
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Aug 9 2024 | Bradford won't start as scheduled Friday against the Yankees after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in New York. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander was reinserted into Texas' rotation last weekend against the Red Sox and was set to start again in Friday's series opener, but that outing will be pushed back. The game will be made up via a doubleheader Saturday, and Bradford should start one of those contests. |
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Aug 4 2024 | Bradford came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Red Sox, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk over 3.2 innings. He struck out five. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A pair of solo homers by Rob Refsnyder accounted for most of the damage off Bradford, but otherwise the southpaw acquitted himself fairly well in the spot start, tossing 41 of 59 pitches for strikes before leaving the mound. With Jon Gray (groin) joining Max Scherzer (shoulder) on the IL over the last week, the Rangers are scrambling for rotation help, and even Tyler Mahle's imminent return from Tommy John surgery will still leave one spot vacant. If Bradford remains in the rotation, he'll face a tough test in his next start -- it lines up to come on the road next weekend in Yankee Stadium. |
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Aug 3 2024 | Bradford is expected to start Saturday's game against the Red Sox, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford and Dane Dunning had been in the running to fill the gap in Texas' rotation Saturday, and it will officially be the former on the mound to start the game after Dunning made a relief appearance during Friday's contest. Bradford owns a 3.38 ERA and 0.84 WHIP through 21.1 innings in the majors this season; however, he was lit up for five earned runs in just two frames during his last outing Tuesday. |
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Aug 2 2024 | Bradford might make a spot start Saturday against the Red Sox, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It will likely be either Bradford or Dane Dunning and it could be something of a piggyback situation if neither of them are needed in relief during Friday's game. Bradford returned from a long stint on the injured list earlier this week and was roughed up for five earned runs in two innings in a relief outing Tuesday. |
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Jul 29 2024 | The Rangers activated Bradford (rib/back) from the 60-day injured list Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's been a long recovery for Bradford, who landed on the injured list in April due to a lower-back strain and a stress fracture in his rib. He was finally able to begin a minor-league rehab assignment July 19, and he'll now rejoin Texas after striking out six batters across 5.2 scoreless innings over his three appearances in the minors. Bradford was included in the Rangers' season-opening rotation and went 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA in 19.1 innings over three starts before landing on the IL, but he's expected to work as a multi-inning relief option as he rejoins Texas. The Rangers will have an opening in the rotation this weekend versus the Red Sox after Jon Gray (groin) was placed on the IL, but Texas may be likelier to turn to Dane Dunning or Jose Urena to make a spot start. |
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Jul 22 2024 | Bradford (rib/back) is scheduled to make a two-inning appearance out of the bullpen for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday in his next rehab outing, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford began his rehab assignment Friday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, throwing one scoreless inning while striking out one batter. He'll shift his rehab program to Frisco as he continues to work his way back from a lower-back strain and stress fracture in his rib, injuries he sustained in mid-April. Bradford turned in a 3-0 record, 1.40 ERA and 0.62 WHIP over his three starts with the Rangers before landing on the injured list, but he'll serve as a multi-inning option out of the Texas bullpen once he's activated. |
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Jul 19 2024 | Bradford (ribs) reported to the Rangers' Arizona Complex League affiliate Friday to begin a rehab assignment, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander has been sidelined by a lower-back strain and stress fracture in his rib since mid-April but has now been cleared for game action. Manager Bruce Bochy said in early July that Bradford was likely to rejoin the Rangers as a reliever, so he may not require a lengthy rehab assignment. |
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Jul 3 2024 | Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Bradford (rib/back) has resumed throwing off a mound, and the left-hander is likely to fill a relief role once back from the injured list, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old was dominant in three starts for Texas with a 1.40 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB before he suffered a lower-back strain and a stress fracture in his rib, but he's not expected to rejoin the rotation once healthy. Max Scherzer is finally healthy after missing nearly the first three months of 2024, and Tyler Mahle (elbow) is also moving toward his season debut. Bradford's buildup and rehab assignment should be shorter since he's coming back as a reliever, but the Rangers are likely still looking for him to cover multiple innings and be an option for spot starts. |
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Jun 21 2024 | Bradford (rib/back) is throwing a bullpen session Friday and then will be sent to the Rangers' Arizona Complex League affiliate, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford has been sidelined since April with a lower back strain and a stress fracture in his rib. However, he's been making steady progression in June and will continue his recovery process in Arizona. While it's unclear when Bradford will start facing hitters, a return shortly after the All-Star break seems feasible. |
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Jun 16 2024 | Bradford (rib/back) said June 5 that he has begun playing catch off flat ground from 120 feet, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bradford turned some heads by opening the season with three wins and a 1.40 ERA and 0.62 WHIP through his first three starts, but he's been on the shelf since mid-April with a lower back strain and a small stress fracture of a rib. Nearly two months later, Bradford is finally throwing again, and assuming that he's responding well to long tossing, he could be cleared for bullpen sessions in the next week or two. Bradford is without a clear target date for a return from the 60-day injured list, but he may not have a rotation spot waiting for him once he's activated, as Max Scherzer (back/arm) and Tyler Mahle (elbow) could both rejoin the big club before him. |
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May 23 2024 | The Rangers transferred Bradford (ribs) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Jesus Tinoco, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Round Rock. Bradford recently experienced a setback with his ribs injury and now won't be eligible to return for several weeks. |
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May 19 2024 | Bradford (ribs) said Sunday he's been shut down from throwing since he's not recovering as quickly as expected, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander apparently wasn't experiencing any pain since recently starting up a throwing program, but his recovery also wasn't moving forward. It's unclear when Bradford is expected to restart the throwing program, and he should be considered out indefinitely until his status is updated. |
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May 13 2024 | Bradford (ribs) played catch Monday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: According to MLB.com, manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that Bradford could be cleared to begin throwing off a mound at some point later on this week during the Rangers' six-game homestand. Bradford was originally placed on the 15-day injured list April 14 with lower-back soreness, but follow-up tests revealed that the southpaw had a "very small" stress fracture on the 12th rib on the right side of his body. Bochy said that the Rangers are expecting Bradford to be sidelined for another month, which would put him in line for a return around the middle of June. Bradford went 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA in three starts prior to landing on the IL, but the Rangers may not have a rotation spot available for him once he's healthy. |
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Apr 26 2024 | Bradford (back) was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his rib Friday and is expected to be sidelined for about a month, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander wasn't progressing as expected in his recovery after landing on the shelf April 14 with lower-back soreness, and a rib stress fracture is the apparent culprit. Bradford will now be sidelined through at least late May, and a more specific timeline should come into focus as he ramps up his rehab work. |
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