In 2024, 255 players made their Major League debut. Of those 255, 149 (58.4%) were pitchers. With pitcher injuries rising at a historic rate, an endless supply of healthy arms is needed to navigate a 162-game season. 369 different pitchers started a Major League game in 2024, an average of 12.3 per team. Starting pitching depth in the Minors is crucial for organizational success, so here are 50 American League pitching prospects who could debut in 2025!
AL EAST
Adam Macko, LHP
Macko joined reliever Erik Swanson as the Blue Jays’ return in the Teoscar Hernandez to the Mariners trade in 2022. Macko, a left-hander with a solid three-pitch mix (FB, CH, CB), has been consistent in two years with the Jays organization, going 5-5 each season with an ERA north of 4.50. He offers minimal strikeout upside but has a solid command of the zone and finds a way to get hitters out. Macko is already on the Jays’ 40-man roster, so he is an easy pick to join the big club if they are in a pinch.
Mason Fluharty, LHP
The Jays love lefties, and 23-year-old Mason Fluharty joins the list. Fluharty is a reliever who just completed his second pro season, tossing 67 innings for Triple-A Buffalo. His cut fastball is his go-to pitch, sitting in the upper 80s with a sharp glove-side break. The sweeper is his best breaking pitch and is absolutely devastating to hitters. It has elite movement (18-19 inches), producing whiff rates approaching 50%. Fluharty has the makings of a dominant left-handed specialist with the arsenal to be impactful in high-leverage situations.
Eric Pardinho, RHP
Pardinho is a six-year Minor League veteran who debuted as a 17-year-old for the Jays’ organization in 2018. The Brazilian-born right-hander has struggled at various points in his career but made significant strides in his second year as a reliever in 2024. Despite some late-season struggles at Triple-A, he finished with a 3.25 ERA and improved his quality of contact rates across the board. Pardinho is primarily fastball-curve but has a split-change that he uses on occasion. His skills are best utilized in a middle-relief role.
Trace Bright, RHP
Bright was a fifth-round pick in 2022 and has consistently performed in two seasons with the organization. Despite a poor win-loss record, he’s pitched to a 3.98 career ERA in 49 starts. Command eludes Bright at times, but his arsenal misses plenty of bats, evidenced by his 28.9% career strikeout rate. After 30 starts at the Double-A level, the 24-year-old is on the short list of MLB-ready starters set to debut for the O’s.
Brandon Young, RHP
The Orioles added the 26-year-old right-hander to their MLB roster to close out 2024, but he never debuted. Young has a sturdy 6’6″ frame with a standard four-pitch mix. While none of his pitches are elite, both Young’s curve and change have shown flashes, and when his command is in line, he has no problems missing bats. Although he’s 26, Young missed most of ’22 and ’23 following elbow surgery, and the Orioles must have seen enough as he joined their 40-man roster in late November.
Ian Seymour, LHP
I absolutely love Ian Seymour and in my opinion, he doesn’t get enough love as a prospect. The former 2nd-rounder was on the fast track to the Majors before Tommy John surgery derailed him in 2022. Since returning in late 2023, Seymour has thrown 187 1/3 innings at four different levels, yielding a 2.16 ERA with a 28.5% strikeout rate compared to a sub-8% walk rate. The left-hander is now 25 but has two above-average offerings in his four-seam fastball and slider, and offers a unique delivery that keeps hitters guessing with its deception.
Yoniel Curet, RHP
Curet may have the best pure stuff in the Rays’ system, but control issues have plagued his career. Curet is an elite bat misser with an upper 90s four-seam fastball, a tight slider, and a fading changeup. He struck out 31.5% of the hitters he faced in 2024, but a 14% walk rate isn’t feasible in the Majors. When he debuts, he projects as a high-leverage bullpen arm with possible closer potential.
Trevor Martin, RHP
Martin is a 6’5″ right-hander who pounds the zone with his fastball/slider combination. In 2024, Martin made 24 starts between High-A and Double-A, going 6-5 with a 4.41 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. He turns 24 in December and will be challenged by a promotion to Triple-A. If he passes the test, look for Martin to debut in the Rays’ bullpen during the second half of 2025.
Joe Rock, LHP
Rock may have the shortest name in baseball history, but at 6’6″, the southpaw is anything but diminutive. The Rays acquired Rock from the Colorado organization ahead of the 2024 season. He pitched exclusively at Triple-A, yielding a 4.58 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 139 2/3 innings. He fits the Rays’ build perfectly, as he’s particularly dominant early in outings before he falls apart. He has 2025 Rays opener written all over him.
David Sandlin, RHP
Sandlin was acquired from the Royals in the John Schreiber trade before 2024 and immediately became one of the top arms in their system. The 6’4″ right-hander pounds the zone with a four-pitch mix and has posted 172 strikeouts to just 36 walks in his career. The biggest problem for Sandlin is that although he throws a ton of strikes, the location of his arsenal lacks consistency. Unfortunately, those issues showed again in 2024, when Sandlin had a 5.34 ERA and allowed 14 home runs in just 57 1/3 innings.
Hunter Dobbins, RHP
Dobbins had a terrific 2024 season pitching across two levels, posting a 3.08 ERA with 120 strikeouts in 125 1/3 innings en route to being named Red Sox MiLB Pitcher of the Year. There isn’t a ton of upside in Dobbins’ arsenal, but he throws strikes and gets hitters out. Although he’s made 61 of his 62 career appearances as a starter, the Red Sox would likely move him to the bullpen as a bulk guy or middle reliever.
Isaac Coffey, RHP
If it weren’t for Dobbins, Coffey would have been the pitcher of the year for the Sox. He finished Double-A with 11 wins and a 3.17 ERA this season with 148 strikeouts in 113 2/3 innings. Coffey has the feel of a middle reliever. He throws four solid pitches, relying on deception and a bunch of spin to keep hitters off balance. Of the two, I’d expect Dobbins to be the first called on to be a spot starter.
Blake Wehunt, RHP
Wehunt is another in a long line of marginal pitching prospects in the Red Sox organization. Like the others, he throws plenty of strikes and uses his outstanding extension to get the most out of his arsenal. At 6’7″, Wehunt has the frame to intimidate hitters, but his low-90s fastball and slider combination isn’t enough for sustained success as a starter.
Chase Hampton, RHP
Hampton, a sixth-round pick in 2022, was dominant in his debut season in 2023. That season, Hampton had a 3.63 ERA with 145 strikeouts in 106 2/3 innings. However, due to a flexor tendon strain, he made just seven appearances last season. If Hampton stays healthy, his four-pitch mix (FB, FB, SL, CB) has the depth to stick in a Major League rotation and offers plenty of bat-missing upside.
Ben Shields, LHP
Shields was utterly unknown, undrafted after his collegiate days at George Mason. The 25-year-old left-hander debuted with the Yankees organization in 2024, making 26 appearances (17 starts) across three levels. He reached Triple-A, finishing the season with a 3.48 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, striking out 137 hitters in 106 IP. Shields isn’t overpowering (low-90s fastball), but he has two dynamic breaking balls and the pitchability you’d expect from a seasoned veteran. He offers sneaky deep league value and should get an extended look to contribute as a swing-man working out of the Yankees’ bullpen.
AL CENTRAL
Parker Messick, LHP
Nothing about Parker Messick screams high-upside arm, but the left-hander has performed well in the Minors and projects to contribute in Cleveland this season. Messick was a 2nd round pick in 2022 and has compiled a 3.28 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 255 1/3 MiLB innings. He relies a lot on his changeup to get batters out, but with a 28% career strikeout rate, it’s hard to argue with the results.
Doug Nikhazy, LHP
Nikhazy is a 25-year-old southpaw who’s struggled to find consistency in the Minors but just finished a dazzling season in 2024. Across two levels, Nikhazy pitched 123 2/3 innings with 124 strikeouts and a 2.98 ERA. His strike-throwing improved this season, but he still posted a walk-rate above 10%. His role with the Guardians is likely in middle relief.
Franco Aleman, RHP
Aleman is a big-bodied 24-year-old with electric stuff out of the pen. His fastball sits in the upper 90s, consistently reaching triple digits, and he also has a wipeout slider. Aleman was dominant this season in limited action, striking out 34 hitters in 22 2/3 innings with a sub-2.00 ERA. He also posted a 15.9% swinging strike rate, 34.1% CSW, and 42.9% strikeout rate. Although a lat injury held him out for a good portion of 2024, Aleman could immediately impact the Guardians’ bullpen.
Ryan Webb, LHP
Webb is yet another lefty in the Guardians’ org. The 25-year-old has a low-90s fastball but relies heavily on offspeed and breaking pitches to generate whiffs. Webb had a 2.80 ERA this season, mainly for Double-A Erie. I got a live look at Webb this summer, and he shut down a Bowie lineup that included Samuel Basallo, Jud Fabian, and Dylan Beavers. Webb held them to just two hits over seven scoreless innings. Webb isn’t a high-upside arm, but he has the craftiness and pitchability to contribute in the back end of a rotation.
Daniel Espino, RHP
I’m already physically ill writing this, but Daniel Espino could get a shot in 2025. Espino has missed two full seasons after consecutive surgeries to repair his rotator cuff and shoulder capsule. When Espino last pitched, his fastball/slider combination was among the best in the Minors. We have no idea what to expect from Espino when he returns or if he ever will.
Ben Kudrna, RHP
Kudrna is the most highly-regarded arm in the Royals’ system. He uses a three-pitch mix, including a nasty changeup, to generate a swinging strike rate of over 15%. Kudrna, who split time between High-A and Double-A last season, struggled at the upper level. As long as his command and control stabilize, he has mid-rotation potential for the Royals.
Noah Cameron, LHP
Outstanding command is the calling card for Noah Cameron, a 25-year-old lefty who grew up in the Kansas City area. Cameron issued just 36 walks this season in 128 2/3 innings compared to 149 strikeouts. His repertoire isn’t overpowering, but he pounds the strike zone and has a slight deception in his delivery that allows his stuff to play up. Cameron should start the season at Triple-A and is on the short list of potential spot starters for a Royals rotation that lacks quality depth.
Chandler Champlain, RHP
Champlain was excellent in the lower levels of the Minors but had a rough run at Triple-A in 2024. In 20 starts, he had a 5.61 ERA and allowed over ten hits per nine. His strikeout rate was well below 20%, and Champlain didn’t miss many bats. The 6’5″ righty has a solid three-pitch mix but relies on locating his repertoire well to get outs. He didn’t have that command in 2024 and will look to get back on track in 2025.
Troy Melton, RHP
Melton was a fourth-round pick in 2022 and had a terrific debut in 2023 before the wheels fell off this season. He spent the entire season at Double-A Erie, posting a 5.10 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 100 2/3 innings. The biggest culprit for Melton is the long ball; he allowed 19 in 2024. Despite poor surface stats, Melton had a 27.4% strikeout rate this season and limited walks (6.1%). His four-pitch mix is built around a mid-90s fastball and sharp slider, but Melton must keep the ball in the yard to sustain success.
Jake Miller, LHP
Miller had one of the better Minor League seasons in 2024, tossing 87 1/3 innings with a 1.85 ERA and a 107:14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 23-year-old is an excellent strike-thrower and parlayed an 18% swinging strike rate and 35.3% CSW into a dazzling 28% K-BB rate. The key to his recent success is pairing his mid-90s fastball with an excellent changeup and slider. Miller has found his calling as a reliever this season after posting a 7.56 ERA as a starter in his first two seasons as a pro.
Tyler Mattison, RHP
Mattison is another converted starter who was outstanding in relief before a torn UCL ended his 2024 season in March. When we last saw Mattison, he had a 2.41 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings across two levels. The 6’4″ right-hander was recently added to the 40-man roster and should be a late-season option for the Tigers in 2025.
Marco Raya, RHP
Raya reminds me of a former Twins prospect and ace, Jose Berrios. The 22-year-old finally got a full workload this season, tossing 97 2/3 innings across two levels. He had a 4.05 ERA and struck out 103 batters to 44 walks. Raya has a good fastball, which sits in the mid-90s, and pairs it with an excellent mid-80s slider. He also throws a curve and changeup, although they could be more reliable. Raya made one start at Triple-A to close out the season and figures to anchor the rotation in St. Paul on his way to the Twins by the end of 2025.
Andrew Morris, RHP
Morris is one of the most underappreciated pitchers in the Minor leagues. The 23-year-old righty has excellent stuff, including an upper 90s fastball with above-average ride, a sharp breaking slider, and an improving curve. Morris pitched to a 2.37 ERA last season, averaging a strikeout per inning, but his arsenal could easily produce a higher strikeout rate. Morris could make 10+ starts in the Majors this season and is a player I’m adding everywhere in my Dynasty leagues.
Cory Lewis, RHP
Lewis is a big guy, standing 6’5″ and 220 lbs. He has a low-90s fastball and a rare knuckleball. His size gives him a good bit of extension, allowing his arsenal to play up. Lewis spent most of 2024 at Double-A, where he had a 2.59 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 66 innings. After throwing many strikes in his first season as a pro, he missed the zone quite a bit in 2024, which led to a 12% walk rate. Lewis doesn’t have excellent stuff, so his strike rate must improve to make an impact in the Majors. I’d expect Lewis to play a mid-relief role for the Twins when he debuts.
Hagen Smith, LHP
I’m not saying it will happen, but what do the White Sox have to lose now? Plus, how much fun would it be to see Smith and Schultz headlining the White Sox rotation in September? Smith, the team’s top pick in 2024, dominated the SEC, yielding 17.3 Ks per nine with a devastating blend of an upper-90s fastball and a hellacious slider. Smith was arguably the best pitcher in the Nation in 2024 and should be on the fast track to his rightful place as the ace of the White Sox staff.
Noah Schultz, LHP
If the White Sox have one positive thing going for them, it’s elite-level starting pitcher prospects. Schultz has the highest upside of them. The 21-year-old has dominated the Minors with a 2.03 ERA and 33.1% strikeout rate in his two seasons. Like Smith, Schultz offers a heavy mix of fastball-slider but is working on a changeup. If the changeup even reaches 50-grade, Schultz will be virtually unhittable. They will protect his innings, but Schultz should make his MLB debut by mid-July.
Mason Adams, RHP
Adams is the polar opposite of Schultz and Smith, relying on outstanding command to get hitters out. His fastball sits in the low 90s, but his curveball sets up his entire arsenal. The curve missed a bunch of bats, and his slider, which sits in a similar velo band, also has a significant upside. With Adams continuously pounding the zone and keeping hitters guessing with the breakers, he’s got a legitimate chance to stick as a back-end arm.
AL WEST
A’s
Mason Barnett, RHP
Barnett was an afterthought at Auburn but became the Royals Pitcher of the Year in 2023. The A’s acquired Barnett in the Lucas Erceg trade, and the 24-year-old is now working toward the Majors. He spent the entire 2024 season at Double-A, pitching to a 4.20 ERA with 161 strikeouts in 133 innings in the Texas League. Barnett throws enough strikes and misses enough bats to stick in the rotation, but commanding his four-pitch mix (FB, SL, CB, CH) needs to be more consistent. If the command and control stabilize, Barnett has the arsenal and makeup to succeed in the Majors.
Gunnar Hoglund, RHP
Hoglund was a two-time 1st-round pick, ultimately landing with the Blue Jays in 2021. He joined the A’s in 2022 after having Tommy John and just started rounding back into form this season. After reaching Triple-A, Hoglund struggled in three starts (5.88 ERA) but was dominant with a 2.84 ERA in 104 2/3 innings in Double-A. His pre-TJ arsenal was electric, and he’s still working to regain his velocity and effectiveness. If he gets close to his old form, Hoglund is easily the best arm in the A’s system and could be in their rotation by mid-season.
Kade Morris, RHP
I’m intrigued by Morris, a 22-year-old right-hander who has climbed five levels over the past two seasons. The surface stats (4.50 ERA/1.30 WHIP) are misleading as Morris has an arsenal that can tend to be a pitch-to-contact. He has two fastballs, a four-seamer, and a sinker, with terrific movement profiles. In addition, he throws at least three other offerings (SL, CB, CH) that come in various forms. Morris pounds the zone (65% strike rate) and attacks hitters with all his pitches, giving him staying power as a starter. Don’t be surprised to see Morris make a few spot starts in 2025.
George Klassen, RHP
Klassen was a surprising name to see traded this season when the 22-year-old was shipped to the Angels in the Carlos Estevez trade. Klassen was amid a breakout debut season after dominating Class-A, posting a 0.83 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 43 innings. Although things derailed a bit in seven starts at Double-A, Klassen finished with a 3.10 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 93 innings and looked like one of the best prospects in baseball. He has a robust bat-missing arsenal, including an upper-90s fastball and two unique breaking pitches. The Angels are a complete wild card in player development, so Klassen will either debut in the middle of 2025 or start Opening Day.
Camden Minacci, RHP
Minacci was the primary closer at Wake Forest on a team that contained Rhett Lowder and Sean Sullivan. In three seasons with the Deacs, Minacci had 21 saves with an ERA of just over 3. He’s pitched exclusively out of the pen as a pro, earning 18 saves with a 3.61 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. Minacci throws a lot of strikes and has a two-pitch mix conducive to a high-leverage role. His fastball sits in the upper 90s and can touch 100, with a hard, upper 80s sweeping slider. With a 30% strikeout rate in the Minors and a high level of collegiate success, Minacci has to be a dark horse candidate for save chances late in 2025.
Samy Natera Jr., LHP
You never know where a healthy arm will come from and Samy Natera is living proof. The 25-year-old lefty reliever had a fine debut season in 2022, making 22 starts with an ERA just over four and a half. After missing the beginning of 2024 due to an elbow injury, Natera made just five appearances in the regular season before playing in the Arizona Fall League. Across 27 innings in 2024, Natera had a 0.66 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. His repertoire is mostly a low-90s fastball and a filthy slider, although he’ll mix in a changeup and splitter. Someone has to close games in Los Angeles, why not Natera?
Miguel Ullola, RHP
22-year-old Miguel Ullola has one of the most talented arms in the Astros’ system, but command and control issues have slowed his development. Ullola tossed 130 1/3 innings this year, mainly at Double-A, pitching to a 4.28 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. The WHIP is impressive, considering he allows over five walks per nine, just percentage points less than the hits allowed. His four-seam fastball is terrific, sitting in the upper 90s with outstanding ride. But the command woes and a lack of a true second offering have Ullola destined for a bullpen role. It’s worth noting that Ullola is also Rule 5 eligible and any team that selects him would be required to keep them on their MLB roster or return him to the Astros.
AJ Blubaugh, RHP
Blubaugh took a significant step forward in 2024, his first season as a full-time starter. Although his strikeout rate ticked down from 2023, the 24-year-old pitched well in Triple-A. He posted an ERA of 3.71 with 128 Ks in 128 2/3 innings in the hitter-friendly PCL. Blubaugh throws five pitches headlined by a mid-90s fastball, and all five offerings have proven valuable to his success. I’d like to see him throw more than 61% strikes, but he has the talent to stick as a starter in the Majors.
Colton Gordon, LHP
Gordon was a recent addition to the Astros 40-man roster and figures to get his first look at the Major League level in 2025. Since arriving in Triple-A, Gordon’s strikeout numbers have dropped quite a bit, but the left-hander has a career K-rate of 27.5%. His four-pitch mix is not overpowering, but he can miss bats with all of his offerings and has the pitchability to get hitters out. Gordon has some deep-league appeal in Houston but will be among a handful of prospect arms in consideration for a spot start.
Logan Evans, RHP
I’m surprised we didn’t get our first look at Evans to close out 2024. The 23-year-old righty was outstanding at Double-A with a 3.20 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Evans has a big, solid frame (6’4, 225) and uses outstanding extension to maximize his arsenal. His repertoire is three pitches, including two fastballs (four-seam and cutter) and a slider. Although he’s not a big strikeout producer (21.9%), Evans is a name to watch as a potential swingman in the Mariners’ pen.
Michael Morales, RHP
Morales had a stellar 2024 season despite pitching in two very different ballparks en route to being named the co-pitcher of the Year. He started his season at hitter-friendly Everett (A+), posting a 2.36 ERA in 84 innings, and then moved to pitcher-friendly Arkansas (AA), where he had a 3.88 ERA. Morales had 147 strikeouts across both levels, a 24.1% strikeout rate against a 6.2% walk rate. The key to Morales’ breakout was the continued development of his slider. The slider has become his primary bat-misser, leading to a 2% increase in strikeout rate over the past two seasons. Morales will likely get a bullpen look in 2025, as the Mariners’ rotation is loaded with high-end arms.
Brandyn Garcia, LHP
Brandyn Garcia, a 24-year-old southpaw, was the other half of the co-Pitcher of the Year, sharing honors with Morales. After his selection in the 11th round of the 2023 Draft, Garcia had an awesome debut season across two levels. He had a 2.25 ERA with 134 strikeouts to 47 walks while limiting hitters to a .616 OPS. 2024 was his first season as a starter since 2022 at Quinnipiac before transferring to Texas A&M and working as a reliever. His arsenal resembles Evans’s as he throws a mid-90s fastball, slider, and cutter. Garcia generated a 30.3% CSW this season and looks like a fast riser in the Mariners’ system.
Alejandro Rosario, RHP
Rosario’s debut season in the Rangers’ organization may have been the best in the Minors in 2024. The 22-year-old right-hander finished with a 2.24 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 88 1/3 innings of A-ball. The most impressive stat was his 129 strikeouts to just 13 walks, a 33.2% K minus walk rate. Bat missing isn’t an issue for Rosario, who pumps an upper 90s fastball up in the zone and elicits chase with a slider and splitter down. If Rosario continues on this trajectory, he may be the #1 pitching prospect by mid-2025 and could debut after the All-Star Break if the Rangers get aggressive.
Emiliano Teodo, RHP
It’s pretty incredible that Teodo had the season he did in 2024. When I got a live look at Teodo last year in the AFL, his control was…something. Although his walk rate was around 14%, Teodo posted a 1.98 ERA in 86 1/3 Double-A innings thanks to an 81.6% strand rate. He excelled in strikeouts, notching 110 of them with his high-octane arsenal. The fastball is routinely in the triple digits with sinking action. Teodo also uses a sharp curveball and a split change. In my opinion, Teodo is best suited as a high-leverage reliever.
Winston Santos, RHP
Solid command. High strikeouts. Rinse and repeat in the Rangers organization. Santos is another arm in the Texas’ stables that is on the rise. After a brutal 2023 (6.29 ERA/1.45 WHIP in High-A), Santos destroyed two levels in 2024. He threw 110 1/3 innings, striking out 138 compared to 34 walks, with a 3.67 ERA. His four-seam fastball has seen a significant velocity increase over the past two seasons (6 mph) and he pairs that with a sharp slider. Given the volatility in Teodo’s profile, I’d rank them Rosario, Santos, and then Teodo for impact as a starter in 2025.
Skylar Hales, RHP
Hales is a traditional reliever since he converted to the bullpen before his junior year at Santa Clara. The 6’4″ right-hander has the arsenal to be impactful in the pen, including an upper 90s fastball that, you guessed it, reaches triple digits. Hales pairs that with a developing slider that needs refined before sustaining MLB success. He tossed 56 2/3 innings this year, ultimately reaching Double-A. Hales had a 31.5% strikeout rate against an 8.5% walk rate. He converted 10/11 save opportunities while securing eight holds and four wins.
Josh Stephan, RHP
Stephan is this group’s seasoned veteran, having thrown 268 1/3 innings since his debut in 2021. After battling numerous injuries that have limited his workload over the past two seasons, Stephan finally got healthy to finish 2024 and had a strong showing in the AFL. His arsenal isn’t overpowering but has diversity. He throws two different fastballs, a changeup, and his best pitch, the slider. Stephan is also a strike thrower, finding the zone with 65% of his offerings this season and maintaining a sub-7% walk-rate for his career. I’m unsure how Stephan fits with the Rangers beyond this year, but I anticipate his MLB debut in 2025, likely in a middle relief or spot start role.
Kohl Drake, LHP
The final arm for Texas is 6’5″ southpaw Kohl Drake. Drake got hit around a bunch in his pro debut in 2023 but rebounded nicely this season. In 19 starts, Drake had a 2.29 ERA over 106 innings, with an impressive 35.4% strikeout rate spanning three levels. He shows a four-pitch mix with a mid-90s heater, fading change, and two breakers (SL, CB). Drake has added some velocity over the past few seasons and his arsenal is now better equipped to be a starter, but how will Texas use him? Drake has experience as a reliever and starter, giving him much needed versatility on a Major League roster.