PHOENIX — Josh Sborz has been through a baseball journey that most don’t overcome.
He was designated for assignment by the Dodgers in 2021. In 2022, he was optioned to Triple-A six times by the Rangers. This year, he endured three IL stints from three separate injuries.
But on Tuesday night, Sborz became a World Series hero. The Rangers reliever got the last seven outs in Game 5 of the World Series, securing Texas’ first championship in franchise history and ending a 63-year drought.
“It’s amazing,” Sborz said. “It’s been a long road to get here. Just thankful for the Rangers staying committed to me and giving me this opportunity. It’s been a tough three years for me, but to be able to finish it and get their first one, it’s just an honor.”
Sborz has etched himself into Rangers lore this postseason. The regular season was injury-riddled, and largely a struggle for the 29-year-old. In 44 appearances, he had a 5.50 ERA and a WHIP over 1. However, as many have experienced in their careers, the clean slate of October can change players’ lives and subsequently the fortunes of their franchises.
Bruce Bochy repeatedly called on Sborz in crucial situations this October, and he was nearly unhittable. In 10 appearances, most coming in tight, late-game scenarios, he allowed a single run and just three hits, with a 0.75 ERA in 12 innings. He was a figurehead of a Rangers bullpen that transformed from their biggest problem in the regular season to one of their greatest weapons in October. A team that ranked 24th in bullpen ERA had the second-best mark in the postseason.
“That’s what they would say was our weak point during the whole season,” said Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi about the bullpen. “For them to step up the way that they did throughout the whole postseason, you can’t give them enough credit.”
Sborz went above and beyond for Texas on Wednesday night. He had his longest outing of the season in the most important game of the year, going 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four. Sborz entered in a 1-0 game with two outs in the seventh, got four outs, and then watched his offense score four runs in the ninth to provide some cushion.
With the Rangers three outs away from their first title, Bochy stuck with his trusted reliever in the ninth, and Sborz fought through fatigue to finish it off.
“When you get to the end of the road, you just push,” Sborz said. “And the offense gave me an extra four runs. It makes that much of a difference. I was getting tired, but when you can pitch freely, you can give up a run, it makes it a lot different than a one-run game.”
Sborz did indeed finish the job, and etched his name into the history books, mobbed at the mound by the entire Texas dugout. It was only fitting that Sborz, having overcome tremendous adversity, was the final step in the process that saw the Rangers go from 100 losses to the top of the baseball world in two years.
As he celebrated with his entire family, Sborz beautifully summed up the whole ride.
“This game is very unforgiving, but if you stay committed and love it, it will always reward you.”
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