Cody Bradford Starts Build-Up to Rangers Return with Rehab Assignment

There was a good reason why the Texas Rangers didn’t put left-hander Cody Bradford on the 60-day injured list to start the season.

He could be ready much sooner than that 60-day window.

Bradford, who underwent elbow surgery last year and didn’t pitch, threw the first game of his rehab assignment on Thursday with the Triple-A Round Rock Express.

It’s the next step in getting Bradford prepped for a return to the Majors, whether it be the rotation or the bullpen. He’s done both and he could be an asset in either area, if needed. But he’ll likely need a few more rehab games before he can make a return.

Cody Bradford’s First Rehab Start

Texas Rangers pitcher Cody Bradford throws a baseball — Texas Rangers pitcher Cody Bradford. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Express hosted Gwinnett on Thursday and faced some of the top prospects from the Atlanta Braves organization. He pitched two innings and threw 27 pitches, 17 of which were strikes. He allowed three hits, two runs and no walks against two strikeouts. Oddly enough, Bradford faced former teammate Rowdy Tellez, who played for the Rangers last season.

Bradford retired the side in order in the first inning, including Tellez as he threw 11 pitchers and induced two groundouts and one flyout.

In the second inning he gave up a leadoff home run to Aaron Schunk, followed by a single to Jair Camargo. He later gave up another home run to DaShawn Keirsey Jr. before he got out of the inning.

A typical build-up for a pitcher in Bradford’s position is one start a week while building up the pitch count and inning count. It’s possible the goal for the next start could be three innings and 40 pitches.

Injuries have been an issue for Bradford since the 2024 season. Early in that season he suffered a low back strain that kept him out for nearly four months before he re-joined the rotation for the final two months of the season. He ended up going 6-3 with a 3.54 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) with 70 strikeouts and 13 walks in 76.1 innings.

When he made his Major League debut in 2023 the Rangers were on their way to winning their first World Series. He was called up to fill in the rotation but ended up a valuable swing man, going 4-3 with a 5.30 ERA in 20 games with eight starts. He struck out 51 and walked 12 in 56 innings. He also pitched in five postseason games, as he went 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA, striking out five and walking none in 7.2 innings.