The Texas Rangers are heading into the new season with what most clubs would call a good problem: too many intriguing bullpen options and not enough roster spots. It’s a situation that creates competition, sharpens focus, and turns the back fields of spring training into a proving ground. Among the relievers trying to force his way into the conversation is a young right-hander who has quietly built momentum over the past year — Gavin Collyer.
In SURPRISE, Arizona, the daily rhythm of camp carries a different kind of energy once the clock creeps toward midday. That’s when live batting practice begins on the Rangers’ back fields. The sun is high, the cages are set, and the matchups start to resemble something closer to real baseball. Once the position players have reported and gone through their early work, pitchers take turns facing hitters in controlled, but highly competitive, live sessions.
On one recent Monday, 11 different Rangers pitchers cycled through live BP assignments. The setup is simple: roughly 20 pitchers in camp, facing groups of four or five hitters at a time. But the simplicity is deceptive. The goal is to simulate genuine game conditions — to test command, execution, sequencing, and composure. For young arms especially, these sessions aren’t just about getting loose. They’re auditions in broad daylight, with teammates, coaches, and decision-makers watching closely.
It was during one of these sessions that Rangers manager Skip Schumaker positioned himself behind the cage to get a clear look at Collyer. The 24-year-old right-hander went to work against a pair of experienced hitters, striking out Mark Canha and Ezequiel Duran in back-to-back at-bats. The sequence was sharp, decisive, and eye-opening.
Schumaker has not been shy about his admiration for Collyer’s raw talent, and he reiterated that praise again the following day. From the manager’s perspective, Collyer’s arsenal stacks up with anyone’s.
“He has as good a stuff as anyone in the Majors,” Schumaker said. “It’s hard to catch up to mid-90s with spin.”
That kind of endorsement carries weight, especially in a camp where bullpen roles remain unsettled. But Collyer’s path to this point has been anything but overnight.
A Long Road Through the System
Collyer has been part of the Rangers organization since he was selected in the 12th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Drafted as a teenager, he has now logged six seasons in professional baseball. The development has been gradual, shaped by adjustments, role changes, and steady refinement of his repertoire.
Originally viewed as a starting pitching prospect, Collyer has transitioned fully into a relief role. That shift has allowed his stuff to tick up and his identity to sharpen. Last season marked an important step. He split time between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock, spending the latter half of the year knocking on the door of the big leagues.
Across his appearances, Collyer posted a 5–6 record with a 4.40 ERA. Those surface numbers might not leap off the page, but they don’t tell the whole story. He converted eight of 16 save opportunities and collected eight holds, evidence that he was trusted in meaningful situations. Opposing hitters managed just a .221 batting average against him. When placed in high-leverage moments, he frequently delivered.
In today’s game, traditional statistics only scratch the surface. Modern player evaluation leans heavily on advanced metrics, and in that arena, Collyer stands out even more. Earlier this year, Baseball America highlighted his progress through a metric known as Stuff+. The analytic attempts to quantify the overall quality of a pitcher’s arsenal, factoring in velocity, movement, spin, and pitch characteristics relative to league norms.
Among minor league pitchers who threw at least 1,000 pitches in 2025, Collyer posted the highest Stuff+ score at 124. In simple terms, that number suggests his pitch quality is well above average — not just good for the minors, but potentially impactful at the highest level.
The Arsenal That Turns Heads
Watching Collyer throw makes the metric understandable. Against Duran in that live session, he finished the at-bat with an off-speed offering that darted away from the right-handed hitter. The pitch had enough late movement to entice a chase, inducing a swing that never truly had a chance.
Against Canha, a 37-year-old veteran with years of big-league experience, Collyer elevated a fastball that proved too firm to catch up to. Even seasoned hitters struggle when velocity and spin align the way Collyer’s do.
Schumaker has described Collyer’s delivery as “funky,” with a distinctive arm slot that creates deception. Hitters don’t just have to account for velocity; they also have to process a slightly unusual release point and movement profile. That combination can disrupt timing and comfort in the batter’s box.
His pitch mix adds another layer of intrigue. The cutter can reach 94 mph, blurring the line between a traditional fastball and a breaking pitch. His slider sits around 90 mph, giving him a hard, late-breaking weapon. And his four-seam fastball can average 97 mph, giving him premium velocity that plays up in short bursts out of the bullpen.
There’s no question the tools are present. In fact, within the organization, the consensus is that raw ability has never been the primary concern.
The Missing Ingredient: Consistency
If there is a hurdle between Collyer and a permanent spot in the Rangers’ bullpen, it isn’t velocity or movement. It’s repetition. It’s command. It’s the ability to fill up the strike zone inning after inning, appearance after appearance.
Schumaker distilled the challenge into a simple progression of questions.
“Now, can he do it again?” the manager said. “And then can he do it again? That’s the consistency of a big leaguer — filling up the strike zone over and over again.”
That refrain echoes a common theme for young power relievers. The jump from Triple-A to the Majors is often less about stuff and more about reliability. Big-league hitters will punish even minor lapses in command. Falling behind in counts, missing spots, or issuing free passes can quickly snowball.
This offseason, the emphasis for Collyer has been on attacking the zone. Not just occasionally, but relentlessly. Monday’s live BP session was a promising example. He worked ahead, executed pitches with intent, and limited waste. The strikeouts were impressive, but the manner in which he controlled at-bats may have been even more significant.
A Bullpen in Flux
As camp unfolds, the Rangers’ bullpen picture remains fluid. Schumaker has made it clear that roles are not etched in stone this early in the process. Competition is expected, and performance will dictate opportunities.
At present, the only relatively firm commitments involve Robert Garcia and Chris Martin, whom Schumaker has indicated could handle save situations at the outset of the season. Even that plan carries an element of flexibility. Bullpens evolve quickly, shaped by matchups, workloads, and results.
In that environment, a strong spring can dramatically alter a player’s trajectory. While Collyer’s traditional minor league numbers might not automatically project him as an Opening Day lock, the combination of elite Stuff+, high-leverage experience, and eye-catching live performances complicates the equation.
The Rangers have shown a willingness in recent seasons to trust power arms in relief roles if the underlying indicators suggest upside. Collyer fits that mold. He has already demonstrated he can handle pressure in the minors. The next step is proving that his command can hold up against the sharper discipline of big-league lineups.
Momentum Building
Spring training often serves as a spotlight for players who were previously on the periphery of roster projections. A few dominant outings, especially against established hitters, can shift internal conversations. Coaches talk. Front office staff compare notes. Momentum builds.
Collyer appears to be entering that phase.
His draft pedigree — a mid-round selection who has steadily climbed the organizational ladder — underscores the patience involved in his development. The move from starter to reliever has clarified his strengths. The data supports his upside. And the eye test, at least on that Monday afternoon in Surprise, reinforced the idea that his stuff is big-league caliber.
The remaining question is whether he can harness it with the consistency required at the highest level. If he continues to pound the strike zone and replicate the sharpness he displayed in live BP, the Rangers may face a difficult decision — one that tilts in his favor.
Opening Day rosters are shaped by a blend of projection and performance. Collyer’s case is becoming harder to ignore. What once seemed like a long-term project now feels closer to immediate impact potential.
The Rangers may already possess a deep pool of bullpen candidates, but spring has a way of reshuffling expectations. If Gavin Collyer continues on his current trajectory, he could transform from an under-the-radar prospect into one of the more intriguing surprises when the season begins.
