Logan Verrett, who was selected by the Baltimore Orioles this past December in the Rule 5 draft, has been claimed by the Texas Rangers, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. The Texas native has looked impressive thus far in spring training, allowing three earned runs in 14 innings with a 12:2 K:BB ratio, but was considered unlikely to break camp with the Orioles because of their own pitching depth.
Verrett was drafted by the Mets in the third-round of the 2011 amateur draft out of Baylor University. The right-hander spent his first season of professional ball splitting time with the Savannah Sand Gnats of the Southern Atlantic League (Single-A) and the St. Lucie Mets of the Florida State League (High-A). The 22-year-old posted a 3.06 ERA with excellent peripherals (9.3 K/9, 1.2 BB/9) in 64.2 innings for the Sand Gnats, and a 2.09 ERA in 38.2 innings with the St. Lucie Mets.
He was promoted to the Binghamton Mets of the Eastern League (Double-A) in 2013 and regressed somewhat, posting a 4.25 ERA in 146 innings, though he maintained strong peripheral stats. Verrett pitched with the Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League (Triple-A) in 2014. There, he posted a 4.33 ERA in 162 innings.
The 6'2", 180-pound right-hander utilizes an arsenal of four pitches: a below-average fastball that sits 88-90 MPH, a sharp breaking slider, a potentially average change-up, and a slow curve. He is able to control his pitches well, evidenced by his minor league career 1.7 BB/9 rate, but his stuff is generally considered underwhelming and eminently hittable, as his increasing H/9 rate attests to.
While primarily a starter, it is likely that Verrett will be used out of the bullpen, as Yovani Gallardo, Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Ross Detwiler and Nick Martinez are all MLB-proven starting pitchers. With injuries to Tanner Scheppers (sprained ankle), Shawn Tolleson (forearm soreness), and Kyuji Fujikawa (tight groin) leaving their Opening Day status in jeopardy, the bullpen would be Verrett's best bet to make the Rangers, regardless.
The 24-year-old right-hander must stay on the Rangers' 25-man roster for the entire 2015 season or be exposed to waivers and then be offered back to the Mets if he clears through them.