The Rangers are planning to recall right-hander Luis Curvelo for his MLB debut, reports Daniel Álvarez Montes of El Extra Base. Curvelo is on the 40-man roster after signing a big league deal in free agency this offseason and was optioned to Triple-A this spring (hence this technically being a “recall” despite never having pitched in the majors).
Curvelo, 24, originally signed with the Mariners out of Venezuela as a teenager during the 2017-18 international signing period. He became a minor league free agent this past offseason and landed a major league deal with Texas after having pitched to a 2.57 ERA with a 30.6% strikeout rate and 7.1% walk rate in Double-A last year.
So far in 2025, Curvelo has continued down that impressive trajectory. In his first crack at the Triple-A level, the 6’1″ righty has logged 22 innings with a pristine 1.64 earned run average, a 26.9% strikeout rate and a 7.5% walk rate. He’s been an extreme fly-ball pitcher in the past but is currently carrying a better-than-average 44.6% ground-ball rate. Curvelo is averaging 95.5 mph on his four-seamer and 95.0 mph on a sinker this year, but he’s thrown his 84.2 mph slider at a nearly 55% clip — far and away the most frequently used offering in his three-pitch repertoire.
Prior to the 2025 season FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen credited Curvelo with a 70-grade slider (on the 20-80 scale) but a 45 fastball that “plays down” due to the right-hander’s sub-par command. Outside of a rough 2022 season in High-A, Curvelo has never had much trouble throwing strikes — but he’s struggled at times with his precision/command within the strike zone.
Curvelo will be the second fresh arm added to manager Bruce Bochy’s relief corps for this weekend series against the Nationals. Veteran righty Chris Martin was just reinstated from the 15-day injured list last night. Texas optioned righty Kumar Rocker to Triple-A Round Rock to clear a roster spot for Martin’s return. They’ll need to open a second spot for Curvelo.
Martin was warming up last night but never entered the game, so I assume he’s going back on the IL.
¡Cúrvelo Curvelo!
How is it that a pitcher named Curvelo doesn’t throw a curve ball? Just such a lost opportunity there.
hiflew – That’s like asking Kutter Crawford to throw a cutter, or Rac Slider to throw a slider, or Greta Gill to throw a slu …… well, you get the point ;O)