Rangers’ Opening Day bullpen includes pair of Bears

When the Texas Rangers open the 2015 season tonight, two members of the team’s bullpen will be Baylor Bears.

Right-handers Shawn Tolleson and Logan Verrett each made the Rangers’ Opening Day roster. Tolleson could be the setup man for Texas closer Neftali Feliz, while Verrett will be a long reliever for the team.

The two Bears were teammates at Baylor for two seasons (2009-10). Tolleson was drafted that summer by the Los Angeles Dodgers (30th round), while Verrett went a year later to the New York Mets (3rd round).

Tolleson made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2012, appearing in 40 games with a 4.30 ERA, but an injury limited him to just one appearance in 2013. The Rangers claimed him on waivers that offseason, and the Metroplex-area native made 64 appearances (all in relief) with a 2.76 ERA last year.

Meanwhile, Verrett’s first outing with the Rangers will also be his major league debut. A graduate of Corpus Christi’s Calallen High School, Verrett went 11-5 last season at AAA for the Mets; after a couple of transactions this spring, he ended up with the Rangers late in spring training. Verrett still ranks among the Bears’ top 10 in career strikeouts.

Tolleson and Verrett will be joined in the big leagues by another former Bear, David Murphy. The veteran outfielder is now with the Cleveland Indians; a Houston native, Murphy begins his 10th major league season tonight in his hometown against the Astros.

Sic ’em, Bears in the big leagues!

[Mark your calendars now for Baylor Day at the Rangers — June 12. The first 2,000 Bears fans in attendance will receive a limited edition Baylor-themed Rangers hat.]