How great is this story?
Colby Lewis struggles with several Major League teams—the Rangers, Athletics, Tigers, and Nationals—in the U.S.
Then, in 2008 and 2009, he plays for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan. He thrives there, leading the league in strikeouts both seasons. Then he comes back and dominates for the Rangers in the States. Pretty good, huh?
When rumors surfaced about the Texas Rangers bringing back their former first-round draft pick, fans only remembered his 10-win, 7.30-ERA season. How do you win 10 games with that stat line?
Great strikeout pitchers in Japan don’t always transition well to MLB mounds. The Yankees learned that the expensive way with Kei Igawa, who is now a run-of-the-mill pitcher in Triple-A. Lewis has faced his share of troubles, too.
But the 30-year-old righty has dominated in his first month back in Texas, putting up an impressive 3-0 record with a 2.76 ERA. His stuff looks good and his control has been much improved from his last trip to The Show. He is also averaging more than one strikeout per inning.
Lewis is the next big thing in baseball; he might be an All-Star in Los Angles this summer, or even a Cy Young winner at the end of the season.
Keep an eye on him.
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