The Texas Rangers made a move to bolster their bullpen on Friday, signing left-handed reliever Hoby Milner to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with performance bonuses. The 33-year-old sidearm specialist, who grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and still calls it home, is coming off a solid season with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Hometown Hero Returns
For Milner, signing with the Rangers represents a homecoming of sorts. The Fort Worth native attended Paschal High School before moving on to the University of Texas, where he spent two seasons with the Longhorns. Selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 7th round of the 2012 draft, Milner made his big league debut with the club in 2017.
Now, after stints with the Rays, Angels, and Brewers, Milner finds himself back where it all began, ready to pitch for the team he grew up watching. “It’s a dream come true,” Milner said of joining the Rangers. “I’ve always wanted to play for my hometown team, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do so at this stage of my career.”
Proven Lefty Specialist
Over the past three seasons, Milner has established himself as one of the most reliable left-handed relievers in baseball. His 201 appearances since 2022 rank 2nd among all southpaws, trailing only Tanner Scott of the Marlins and Padres. In 2024, Milner went 5-1 with a 4.73 ERA over 61 games for Milwaukee, even making an “opener” start against the Rangers on June 25.
For his career, the 6’3″ Milner owns a 10-5 record with a 3.82 ERA in 9 major league seasons. His funky sidearm delivery has proven especially tough on left-handed hitters, holding them to a paltry .190/.279/.319 slash line. The Rangers will be counting on Milner to serve as their primary weapon against the likes of fellow AL West lefty sluggers like Yordan Alvarez, Ty France, Shohei Ohtani, and Seth Brown.
We’re excited to add a proven lefty like Hoby to our bullpen mix. He’s a local product with great makeup and moxie, and we think he’ll be a real asset for us, especially in key situations against tough left-handed hitters.
– Rangers GM Chris Young
Incentive-Laden Deal
Milner’s contract with the Rangers, which will pay him a base salary of $2.5 million, also includes up to $500,000 in performance bonuses tied to innings pitched. He’ll earn an extra $100,000 each for reaching 35 and 45 innings, and an additional $150,000 for hitting 55 and 65 innings thresholds.
For a rubber-armed reliever like Milner, who’s averaged 67 appearances per season since 2022, those bonuses are well within reach. If he can stay healthy and effective, the Rangers’ investment could pay off nicely, giving manager Bruce Bochy a valuable weapon to deploy in high-leverage spots.
Reinforcing the Relief Corps
Milner joins a Texas bullpen that ranked in the middle of the pack in 2024, placing 15th in ERA (3.91), 20th in WHIP (1.30), and 18th in strikeout rate (23.5%). His arrival likely pushes fellow lefties John King and Brock Burke into more specialized roles, while incumbent closer Jose Leclerc, setup man Jonathan Hernandez, and right-handed fireman Joe Barlow continue to anchor the late innings.
| PITCHER | ROLE | 2024 ERA |
| Jose Leclerc | Closer | 3.32 |
| Jonathan Hernandez | Setup | 3.08 |
| Joe Barlow | Setup | 3.62 |
| Hoby Milner | LH Setup | 4.73 |
With starters like Jacob deGrom, Andrew Heaney, and Nathan Eovaldi locked in atop the rotation and offseason additions like Milner fortifying the relief corps, the Rangers look poised to build on their 82-80 finish in 2024. If the pitching staff can take another step forward and the offense, led by mashers Corey Seager and Adolis García, continues to produce, a return to playoff contention could be in the cards for Texas in 2025.
Final Thoughts
All told, the signing of Hoby Milner represents a savvy, low-risk move for the Rangers as they look to bolster their bullpen and make a push up the standings in the ultra-competitive AL West. The homecoming narrative provides a feel-good element, while Milner’s track record and penchant for neutralizing left-handed hitters give Texas a valuable weapon in an area of need. If he can stay healthy and replicate his recent success, this could prove to be one of the shrewder under-the-radar pickups of the offseason.
For Milner, the chance to pitch for his hometown team at this stage of his career is the opportunity of a lifetime. Expect the local product to leave it all on the field as he looks to make good on the Rangers’ faith in him and help lead the club back to October baseball. The road through the division is daunting, but with Milner in tow, Texas might just have the bullpen depth to pull off a surprise in 2025.
