The Texas Rangers have optioned pitcher Neftali Feliz to the minor leagues as he continues to recover from Tommy John elbow surgery.
Feliz, 25, will work his way back to the majors while pitching at Triple-A Round Rock.
“Some guys need velocity more than others,” general manager Jon Daniels said on Saturday. “He just isn’t ready to help us in that capacity. We expect the velocity will keep on coming. Where we start off, though, he’s not in a position to help us in that role. He seems to have hit a plateau a little here. Some guys don’t need to be 100 percent back to be effective. We’ll just let it play out.”
This spring Feliz has appeared in nine games totaling 10 innings. He has a 4.50 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP to go with a 6/2 K/BB ratio.
Feliz is owed $3 million this season, a number he will collect whether he pitches with the Rangers or one of their minor league affiliates.
In addition to Feliz, the Rangers also reassigned Aaron Poreda and Rafael Perez to Minor League camp.
