It's difficult to find the positives out of Tony Oliva Jersey a 10-1 lo s to a division rival sitting behind you in the standings. To add to the free fall that is the Texas Rangers' 2020 season, it was the team's seventh straight lo s.In the Rangers' two lo ses in Seattle, starters Kolby Allard and Jordan Lyles pitched a combined 4 2/3 innings with 12 earned runs. On Friday, young hurlers Wes Benjamin and Kyle Cody flashed some of their potential in relief of Allard. On Saturday, Taylor Hearn followed suit in relief of Lyles with five strikeouts over two scorele s innings.However, the box score doesn't tell the whole storya story that was 486 days in the making."Tonight was a big night for Taylor Hearn," said teammate Jose Trevino after Saturday's lo s to Seattle. "I dont know if anybody knows that, I know that for sure. Mentally, coming back to a place Harmon Killebrew Jersey where he didnt do so well (and) walked off this field injured."Saturday night was the first time Hearn took the mound in Seattle since April 25, 2019his Major League debut. In case you don't remember, it wasn't a storybook debut. Hearn made his first career start, but only lasted 1/3 inning. He gave up three hits, walked four batters, and allowed five runs (four earned). In addition, Hearn suffered an elbow injury that derailed his entire 2019 season.On August 10, Hearn carried his career ERA of 108.00 to the mound at Globe Life Field againstyou gue sed itthe Seattle Mariners. Now, just 12 days later, he's had the chance to revisit the mound where a dream quickly turned into a nightmare.Back in Spring Training, . With everything now coming full circle, Hearn is focused more on the future than avenging his past.Scroll to Continue"It means a lot," Hearn Max Kepler Jersey told SI's . "It was much needed. But as I've been getting more reps and starting to get more consistent, I've been getting my feel as well."Hearn's fastball-slider combination gives the Rangers a dangerous left-handed option out of the bullpen. As Hearn has continued to take the mound, he's found better command of both pitches, which was on full display on Saturday night.As the Rangers are being pushed to further consider their future rather than postseason aspirations here in 2020, Hearn remains in the discu sion for a future spot in the starting rotation."I haven't given up on that, I don't think we have as an organization," said Rangers manager Chris Woodward. "I still value him in that way, potentially long-term. Robbie Grossman Jersey And I know he does as well. I just want to make sure he gets comfortable in the big leagues right now. ...He's worked really hard to get to where he's Willians Astudillo Jersey at, and I don't want to ruin that and all of a sudden get something that he's not ready for yet."Woodward also said if Hearn could add the changeup as an out pitch against right-handed hitters, he could be a strong candidate for a starting role in the long-term.Hearn's Major League career is just getting started. That story has yet to be written. But Hearn can finally close this one with a happy ending."For him to come back and pitch as well as he did tonight, for me personally, thats a big step in the right direction for him," Trevino said. "I think thats awesome."
