The Rangers have begun revamping their bullpen, which was significantly impacted by free agency departures, with the signing of Luis Curvelo, a potential breakout candidate. The only caveat is that Curvelo’s first big league pitch will be his debut.

Curvelo, a 24-year-old right-handed pitcher, spent the last six seasons with the Seattle Mariners organization.

In the past season, he posted a solid 2.70 ERA over 66 innings at Double-A Arkansas, striking out 78 batters and maintaining a 4.3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. However, the Mariners, with a full 40-man roster, chose not to add him to their roster, making him eligible for minor league free agency.

The Rangers took advantage of this opportunity, offering Curvelo a major league contract and a spot on their 40-man roster, which had available slots due to free agency departures.

Curvelo was highly discussed at the GM meetings, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, due to his potential as a low-risk, high-reward pitcher. While not considered a dominant force yet, his availability and low cost made him an attractive option. Morosi reported that the Rangers were close to finalizing the deal with Curvelo.

Curvelo’s four-seam fastball sits between 94-97 mph, and he also boasts a slider with impressive swing-and-miss potential. Toward the end of the season at Arkansas, he added a sinker to his repertoire.

Over his final 20 appearances, Curvelo excelled with a remarkable 0.83 ERA, holding opponents to a .103 batting average and a .350 OPS while striking out 27 batters in 21.2 innings.