Nathan Eovaldi is feeling optimistic about his body as the 2026 Spring Training draws near.
The Texas Rangers right-hander was having a strong 2025 MLB campaign, but his campaign ended in August due to a rotator cuff strain. In October, he went under the knife to address a sports hernia.
But the 35-year-old Eovaldi appears to be raring to get back on the mound, as he expressed his readiness to pitch competitively again.
“I don’t expect to have any limitations coming into Spring Training,” Eovaldi said during an appearance on the “SportsDay Rangers podcast.”
“I’ve been throwing multiple bullpens, and my arm feels great, body feels great, and I’m ready for the season to get going.”
Given how far away the 2026 MLB season still is, what Eovaldi said about his health status is a great sign for his availability right from the get-go of the new campaign.
After winning the World Series in 2023, the Rangers have not been back to the MLB postseason and finished third in the American League West Division in 2024 and 2025 with 78 and 81 victories, respectively.
Having Eovaldi back and possibly in his old, reliable form will give the Rangers’ pitching staff a big shot in the arm after already finishing No. 1 in the big leagues in 2025 with a collective 3.41 ERA among starting pitchers. That takes into account Eovaldi’s 1.73 ERA and 0.854 WHIP across 22 starts.
