Marc Easton Church (born March 30, 2001) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
| Marc Church | |
|---|---|
| Texas Rangers – No. 68 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: March 30, 2001 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 28, 2024, for the Texas Rangers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 0–0 |
| Earned run average | 0.00 |
| Strikeouts | 1 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
Amateur career
editChurch attended North Atlanta High School in Atlanta, Georgia.[1] He spent most of his life as an infielder, committing to North Carolina A&T State University as such after his junior season.[2] Church converted to pitching and reached 93 MPH on his fastball as a senior.[2]
Professional career
editThe Texas Rangers selected Church in the 18th round, with the 535th overall selection, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[3] Church signed with Texas for an over-slot $300,000 signing bonus.[4] After signing, Church did not appear in an official game with a Rangers' affiliate in the 2019 season. Instead, he took part in a new program put in place by Texas for their newly drafted high school pitchers. The "de-load" program as the organization called it, emphasized building a foundation mentally and physically while resting the pitchers' bodies from a strenuous senior season and pre-draft showcase circuit. The players were put through a strength program and classroom work until the post-season fall instructional training started.[5] He did not play in a game 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Church made his professional debut and spent the 2021 season with the Down East Wood Ducks of the Low-A East, going 3–1 with a 4.28 ERA and 49 strikeouts over 27+1⁄3 innings.[7] He missed the second half of that season with elbow inflammation that did not require surgery.[7] Church opened the 2022 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the High-A South Atlantic League, going 2–2 with a 2.91 ERA and 57 strikeouts over 34 innings.[8][9][10] He was promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League on June 29, and struggled to a 1–3 record with a 7.20 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 15 innings.[11]
The Rangers invited Church to major league spring training as a non-roster player in 2023.[12] Church returned to Frisco to open the 2023 season. He was promoted to the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on May 23, after posting a 4.00 ERA with 31 strikeouts over 18 innings for Frisco.[13] Over 44 innings for Round Rock, Church posted a 7–1 record with a 3.48 ERA and 48 strikeouts. On November 14, 2023, Texas added Church to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[14]
Church was optioned to Triple–A Round Rock to begin the 2024 season.[15] Church missed nearly 4 months of the season on the injured list with a right shoulder strain.[16] In 17 games for the Express, he compiled a 3.22 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 22+1⁄3 innings pitched. On September 27, 2024, Church was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[17]
References
edit- ^ Longenhagen, Eric (May 28, 2021). "Top 65 Prospects: Texas Rangers". FanGraphs.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ a b "Top Georgia 2019 MLB Draft Prospects". Baseball America. May 28, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ "List of players drafted by MLB from Georgia high schools". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ Newberg, Jamey (April 27, 2022). "Texas Rangers 2022 season-opening prospect rankings: Nos. 54 through 37". The Athletic. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Jamey Newberg (October 17, 2018). "The logic behind Rangers' unorthodox, innovative "de-load" program, and how their young pitchers feel about it". The Athletic. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
- ^ Mayo, Jonathan (November 5, 2020). "Texas pitchers impress in instructional league". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ a b Morris, Adam J. (May 16, 2022). "Thoughts on four Rangers minor leaguers". Lone Star Ball (SB Nation). Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Longenhagen, Eric (June 6, 2022). "Texas Rangers Top 50 Prospects". FanGraphs.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ "Players Making Significant Jumps Up Midseason Top 30 Prospects Lists". Baseball America. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Texas Rangers, P.R. (May 17, 2022). "Rangers announce Minor League Award winners for April". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Postins, Matthew (October 9, 2022). "Rangers Top 30 Prospect Wraps: Marc Church". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ Postins, Matthew (January 28, 2023). "Rangers Invite Top Prospects to Spring Training". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ Grant, Evan (May 24, 2023). "Rangers promote relief prospect Marc Church to Triple-A Round Rock". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ Postins, Matthew (September 23, 2023). "Rangers Select Prospects for Arizona Fall League". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "Rangers' Marc Church: Won't crack Opening Day roster". cbssports.com. March 27, 2024.
- ^ "Rangers recall right-handed pitchers Marc Church and Daniel Robert from Triple-A Round Rock". MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ "Rangers Recall Marc Church For MLB Debut". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference (Minors)