Just about a month ago, I published a post on Mark Prior after I read a short blurb in my local paper about how the former first round phenom of the Chicago Cubs was trying to make a comeback as a bullpen pitcher for the Orange County Flyers of the Golden Baseball League. Well, today I flipped open the same paper and lo and behold, Mark Prior has signed a contract with the Texas Rangers’ minor league club. Prior, Prior who signed a contract with the Flyers on Aug. 3, will be assigned to AAA Oklahoma City. Although Prior only spent a month pitching for the Flyers, he allowed just one earned run over nine relief appearances (11 innings) with 22 strikeouts and five walks.
Although no one expects Prior to breeze through AAA and reclaim his once dominant major league status, Nolan Ryan and the Rangers obviously have something in mind. Prior may never be the pitcher he once was, but at age 30, his perseverance is remarkable. Furthermore, if Prior is really looking to make a comeback and exercise that injury demons that plagued his five season in Chicago, what better place to do it than Texas? Josh Hamilton’s baseball career was all but left for dead until the Rangers gave him a chance to resurrect his career and how he is on his way to winning his first AL batting title. Valdimir Guerrero’s career looked like it was over after a dismal and injury laden 2009 with the Angels––he’s now hitting .295 with 99 RBIs. Granted, Prior, considering all the injuries that he has had to overcome, may have a longer road to travel, but what a sight it would be to him back in the majors.
photo credit: Brian L. Romig
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