Former Ranger Gardewine Added to Pitching Staff

CLEBURNE, Tex. (May 7, 2021) – The Cleburne Railroaders announced Friday the signing of right-handed pitcher Nick Gardewine.

Gardewine pitched with the Rangers during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, appearing in 15 total games as a reliever. Over 13.0 innings, Gardewine fashioned a 4.85 ERA, allowing 17 hits while striking out seven. The right-hander made his major league debut on August 22, 2017 against the Los Angeles Angels, then picked up his first strikeout against Matt Adams of the Atlanta Braves on September 6.  

A native of Effingham, Ill. who now resides in Dallas, Gardewine’s entire professional career has come in the Rangers system, spanning his debut with the club’s Arizona League affiliate in 2013 to a brief stint with Triple-A Nashville in 2019. Over those seven seasons, Gardewine has complied strong numbers across the board, going 23-18 with a 3.75 ERA in 144 games, 38 as a starter. He also owns 17 professional saves, having converted from starter to reliever following the 2015 season.

The 27-year-old put together perhaps his best season in his first full year operating out of the bullpen, posting a 2.47 ERA in 29 outings with High-A High Desert of the hitter friendly California League. He allowed only 39 hits in 54.2 innings, adding a 4.3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio that helped notch a career-best seven saves. Gardewine threw the final pitch in High Desert franchise history, picking up the save in game three of the 2016 California League Championship Series.

Gardewine then followed up that success with another excellent season in 2017, lowering his ERA to 2.21 in a career-high 33 games. The right-hander once again allowed less than one hit per inning pitched, and racked up 53 strikeouts to only 12 walks.

Gardewine is one of only two players in the history of Kaskaskia College to reach the Major Leagues, and one of only nine to have been drafted by a Major League organization. In 2013, Gardewine helped the Blue Devils reach the NJCAA World Series for the only time in program history, going 9-1 with a 2.12 ERA. He was selected by the Rangers in the 7th round following the season.

For information on partnerships, season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Railroaders main office at (817) 945-8705, or visit the Railroaders official website at www.railroaderbaseball.com.