Marc Church

Marc Church
Texas Rangers – No. 68
Pitcher
Born: (2001-03-30) March 30, 2001 (age 23)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 28, 2024, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average0.00
Strikeouts1
Teams

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

Amateur career

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Church 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

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Church was drafted by the Texas Rangers 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]

Church received a non-roster invitation to major league spring training 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

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  1. ^ Longenhagen, Eric (May 28, 2021). "Top 65 Prospects: Texas Rangers". FanGraphs.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Top Georgia 2019 MLB Draft Prospects". Baseball America. May 28, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  3. ^ "List of players drafted by MLB from Georgia high schools". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  4. ^ Newberg, Jamey (April 27, 2022). "Texas Rangers 2022 season-opening prospect rankings: Nos. 54 through 37". The Athletic. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (November 5, 2020). "Texas pitchers impress in instructional league". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Morris, Adam J. (May 16, 2022). "Thoughts on four Rangers minor leaguers". Lone Star Ball (SB Nation). Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  8. ^ Longenhagen, Eric (June 6, 2022). "Texas Rangers Top 50 Prospects". FanGraphs.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  9. ^ "Players Making Significant Jumps Up Midseason Top 30 Prospects Lists". Baseball America. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  10. ^ Texas Rangers, P.R. (May 17, 2022). "Rangers announce Minor League Award winners for April". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  11. ^ Postins, Matthew (October 9, 2022). "Rangers Top 30 Prospect Wraps: Marc Church". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  12. ^ Postins, Matthew (January 28, 2023). "Rangers Invite Top Prospects to Spring Training". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Grant, Evan (May 24, 2023). "Rangers promote relief prospect Marc Church to Triple-A Round Rock". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  14. ^ Postins, Matthew (September 23, 2023). "Rangers Select Prospects for Arizona Fall League". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  15. ^ "Rangers' Marc Church: Won't crack Opening Day roster". cbssports.com. March 27, 2024.
  16. ^ "Rangers recall right-handed pitchers Marc Church and Daniel Robert from Triple-A Round Rock". MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  17. ^ "Rangers Recall Marc Church For MLB Debut". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
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