Leclerc returns after 2 years on the shelf

DETROIT — As Adolis García connected in the first inning on Saturday, everyone knew the ball was gone.

The Tigers’ outfield didn’t make much effort. The crowd at Comerica Park groaned as García’s knock sailed high and deep. And as it turned out, the 5.5 seconds of hang time was also long enough for the Rangers’ bullpen to get into place.

An unnamed Texas reliever jumped up from his perch on the left-center-field bench, took a few steps back and made a clean catch of García’s 13th home run of the season. His ’penmates threw up their hands in classic “touchdown” celebration, and the lefty held his souvenir triumphantly skyward as he sprinted the length of the visitors’ bullpen and back again.

It wasn’t the only celebration Texas’ relief corps had Saturday despite a 14-7 loss to the Tigers. The bullpen phone finally rang for José Leclerc nearly two years after the last time he’d been summoned to a Major League mound.

Were there nerves? Maybe a couple, but you’d never get that out of Leclerc. Most of the jitters probably worked themselves out during the commute to Detroit, which involved a pair of canceled flights and a 1:30 a.m. CT arrival that morning.

“I’m completely at ease,” he said Saturday. “It’s been a long time, and I just want to do my job and throw strikes.”

Manager Chris Woodward mentioned after Leclerc was activated on Thursday that he’d like to ease his pitcher back into the mix. With zero reason for a fiery baptism, the sixth inning on Saturday seemed a perfect time for Leclerc to wet his feet.

By chance, the first batter he faced was future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers’ designated hitter watched as Leclerc’s 95.5 mph fastball buzzed past, then took a slider far outside for a ball before lining a double to the wall in left field to open Leclerc’s day.

By the time the dust had settled seven batters later, Detroit had scored three runs on Leclerc via four hits, a walk, a wild pitch and a passed ball. In fairness, the Tigers were already on a tear: The home team had scored 11 runs and collected 13 hits before Leclerc even took the mound.

“I know he wanted to put up a zero and have some success. You wish that, obviously. Poor guy hasn’t pitched since 2020,” Woodward said. “But it was good to see him healthy, throwing the ball out there, and we can move forward from that. I’m not too worried about him long-term, but it was nice to see him out there.”

Though his first game back wasn’t indicative of Leclerc’s potential, the Rangers are still confident in his ability and Saturday’s outing did bring some positives. For starters, as Woodward said, Leclerc got through it healthy.

Good or bad, his outing marked not only the end of a long journey, but also a reward for sticking with it. Since the right-hander’s last big league appearance — one inning on July 26, 2020, against the Rockies — he’d lost the rest of that season with a torn Teres muscle in his throwing shoulder.

Leclerc battled back with an impressive 2021 Spring Training, earning the nod as the Rangers’ choice for high-leverage reliever at the back end of the bullpen. But discomfort in his right elbow following his final Cactus League outing on March 22 that year led to Tommy John surgery the next week, and both Leclerc’s and the Rangers’ plans were scuttled.

After more than another year’s worth of rest and rehab, Texas activated Leclerc this May 22 and sent him on a series of rehab outings; first with Double-A Frisco, then with Triple-A Round Rock. The goal, Woodward said, was to test Leclerc in several situations before he rejoined the team.

After two appearances with the RoughRiders and seven with the Express, Leclerc was ready to roll. And now, with his re-debut out of the way, the 28-year-old is confident that he’ll find a role somewhere in the bullpen. While being the ninth-inning guy was definitely exciting, Leclerc said he’s happy to play wherever he’s plugged in.

“For me, no, [it doesn’t matter when I pitch],” he said. “I just want to help the team any way I can. I don’t care about the situation.”