Patrick Corbin pitched through mystery bite that left him barely able to walk
Texas Rangers pitcher Patrick Corbin gutted out a near-quality start Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels, winning 3-1 despite dealing with a mysterious bite that almost kept him off the mound entirely.
“We weren’t even sure if he was going to pitch,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy revealed Thursday. “He had a bite. He could hardly walk when he came into the clubhouse. Some kind of venom got in there. Not sure if it was a spider or what. He was 50/50 on whether he would make the start or not.”
Corbin confirmed the scary situation but couldn’t identify what bit him.
“My foot was really swollen,” he said.
Thankfully, the Rangers medical team worked their magic, treating the area throughout the day to get him ready. While the spot remains sore, there’s no sign he’ll miss his next start.
Despite this unexpected challenge, the 35-year-old lefty pitched 5â…“ solid innings in just his second appearance with Texas.
The veteran has been a pleasant surprise for the Rangers, posting a 3.86 ERA across his first two starts. He’s allowed just four runs on 10 hits while striking out six batters.
It’s a promising fresh start for Corbin, who struggled mightily in his final four seasons with the Washington Nationals. After helping Washington win the 2019 World Series, things went downhill fast – he posted a terrible 71 ERA+ and actually cost his team four wins below replacement level according to Baseball Reference.
The Rangers currently sit atop the AL West with an 11-7 record, an impressive feat considering their injury-depleted rotation. They’re currently missing Jon Gray (fractured wrist), Jack Leiter (blister), and Cody Bradford (sprained elbow).
If Corbin can keep battling through adversity like he did Wednesday, he might prove to be one of the team’s most valuable pickups this season.
