The Rangers are bringing back a familiar face to spring training, signing right-handed reliever Patrick Murphy to a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp. Texas also made official their previously reported agreement with veteran righty Nabil Crismatt, adding more depth to their pitching staff as camp approaches.

For Murphy, this marks his second straight spring with the Rangers. He was in camp last year on a non-roster deal and made a solid impression in exhibition play.

That earned him a spot with Triple-A Round Rock, where he logged 14 appearances before being granted his release midseason. The move allowed him to explore an opportunity overseas, and he landed with the KT Wiz of the KBO.

Murphy’s time in Korea was brief but effective. He made 15 appearances for the Wiz, starting nine of them, and posted a 3.12 ERA over 60 2/3 innings.

While the strikeout rate was on the lower side – just 17% – he showed enough to hold down a rotation spot for much of the year. Still, the Wiz opted to move on from both of their international pitchers following the season.

Lefty Enmanuel De Jesus also departed the club and is now back in affiliated ball with the Tigers. In their place, the Wiz brought in Matt Sauer and Caleb Boushley, the latter of whom made 25 appearances for Texas last season..

Now, Murphy’s focus shifts back to the big leagues, where he hasn’t pitched since 2022. Between 2020 and 2022, he made 35 appearances for the Blue Jays and Nationals, posting a 4.76 ERA across 39 2/3 innings. The peripherals were a mixed bag – strikeouts and walks both came in just below league average – but the raw stuff is still intriguing.

Murphy brings a fastball that sits around 95 mph, mixing a four-seamer and a sinker, and leans on a low-80s curveball to keep hitters off balance. That arsenal gives him a chance to compete for a bullpen role if he shows well in camp. At 28, he’s not a prospect anymore, but he’s still got the kind of arm that teams like to take a flier on – especially when there’s a track record of success overseas and a fresh look coming into camp.

For the Rangers, it’s a low-risk move that adds another layer of competition to a bullpen that’s still taking shape. And for Murphy, it’s another shot at proving he belongs back on a big league mound.