Rangers Secure Austin Gomber with Minor League Contract

The Texas Rangers have secured left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber with a minor league contract, as reported by Aram Leighton of Filmogaz.com. This agreement includes an invite for Gomber to participate in MLB Spring Training next month.

Austin Gomber: Career Overview

Austin Gomber, 32, was a fourth-round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 2018. Gomber was later traded to the Colorado Rockies in connection with the blockbuster deal that sent Nolan Arenado to St. Louis.

Performance Highlights

During his time with the Cardinals, Gomber posted a 3.72 ERA and a 3.89 FIP across 104 innings. The Rockies were optimistic about his potential to be a reliable fourth starter alongside pitchers like German Marquez and Kyle Freeland.

Mixed Results in Colorado

Gomber’s tenure in Colorado has produced inconsistent results. In his debut season, he achieved a 4.53 ERA (106 ERA+) over 23 starts. However, his performance deteriorated in 2022 and 2023, although he rebounded to a more average level in 2024.

• 2021: 23.2% strikeout rate, 8.4% walk rate
• 2022-2024: 16.3% strikeout rate, 6.3% walk rate
• Ground ball rate decline: 44.3% down to 40.5%

In 2025, Gomber faced significant difficulties, culminating in a dramatic drop in performance. His strikeout rate fell to 12.5%, while his ground ball rate dropped to 33.2%. Consequently, he registered a troubling 7.49 ERA and 6.50 FIP over 57 and two-thirds innings.

Recent Transactions

After these struggles, the Rockies released Gomber in August 2025. He then signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs and experienced some success at Triple-A Iowa, compiling a notable 0.47 ERA over 19 innings in four appearances.

Gomber’s Future with the Rangers

Now with the Rangers, Gomber aims to add much-needed depth to a rotation that includes talents like MacKenzie Gore, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Jack Leiter, and Kumar Rocker. Despite the rotation’s promising lineup, both Eovaldi and deGrom carry significant injury concerns, and Rocker has yet to solidify his place in the majors.

Competition for a Rotation Spot

In Spring Training, Gomber could compete with Rocker and Jacob Latz for the final rotation spot. While he may not be the frontrunner, Gomber’s prior successes suggest he has a viable path to securing a place in the lineup, either through outperforming other candidates or due to an injury opening.