The Texas Rangers have decided not to bring back Jeff Andrews as the RoughRiders pitching coach per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
Andrews, who is 63 years old, served as the pitching coach for the RoughRiders during two different stints, from 2009 to 2015 and then again from 2021 to 2022.
Andrews has overseen some good pitching talent over the years including top pitching prospects this season: Jack Leiter, Cody Bradford, Owen White, Zak Kent, Mason Englert, and Avery Weems. Not listed in any particular order.
Cole Ragans who won the Nolan Ryan Pitcher of the Year award started the season in Frisco and ended up making his Major League Debut. That is a development win but the Rangers need more of that.
The RoughRiders pitching staff had a decent season with highs and lows, ranking third in the Texas League in ERA (4.70), second in WHIP (1.40) and third in batting average against (.247).
Zak Kent, Cody Bradford and Mason Englert, each were brilliant down the stretch of the 2022 season. Kent was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock, Bradford had a 2.63 earned run average over his last 7 starts and Mason Englert was promoted to Frisco and lent a hand in the postseason success.
In 2021, the RoughRiders pitching staff led the Double-A Central with a 3.98 earned run average, and were also tops in the league in WHIP (1.25) and batting average against (.228). The pitching staff took a step back numbers wise in 2022, but they’re still Texas League Champions in 2022.
The Rangers are desperate to develop more of their own pitching to find success at the Major League Level. It seems they are making the moves that they see necessary to help further develop to pitching prospects.
To be clear, the Rangers did not provide a reason for parting ways with Andrews. It could have been mutual.
Either way, Andrews goes out a champion – the RoughRiders won the Texas League Championship while he was with them.
