Texas Rangers' Neftali Feliz to assume new role in rotation – MLB News
The Texas Rangers have decided to delegate a new role to their closer Neftali Feliz. He will now be part of the rotation from being a closer as the transition that the player is working hard to adapt to. Among other things, so far, he has dropped five pounds
to exhibit preparedness for the new role.
What was profoundly unsettling for Feliz and the team as a whole was the last year’s World Series final where the player allowed a triple to David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals. This radically altered the entire outlook of the game, sending the match
into extra innings and eventually culminated with a victory for the Cardinals.
Even though months have passed since that catastrophe, Feliz still retains the memory and feels upset.
"It was something that really upset me a lot," Feliz said through an interpreter. "It was sad. But I'm not mad at myself because I threw my pitch. I threw my fastball. It just got hit."
However, much as the nature of that defeat was huge and spirit dampening, the team management has their confidence in their player, looking forward to his strong play in the coming season.
While he had three losses in 64 games that he appeared last year as a closer, the player had a fairly good ERA of 2.74, having remained fifth in the American League with 32 saves for the Texas Rangers throughout the season.
Thus the new role in the rotation is something he is getting ready for.
"The main thing [Pedro] told me was to make sure I'm not going to replace anyone in the rotation, like C.J.," Feliz said. "We talked about being a starter and working hard. It's something I have to make an adjustment with my body and my routines.”
Young and sprightly, the 23-year-old Feliz will certainly take his time to become a starter. However, as things appear right now, he is all set to do even the impossible given the confidence he has and all the positives of being a strong figure for any bullpen
in the Major League.
Tags: