“We need a pillar.”
There are many ways to describe Texas righthander Nathan Eovaldi. “One of the best teammates I’ve ever had.” (Texas catcher Jonah Heim.) “The ultimate competitor.” (Texas coach Bobby Wilson.) “A man who has given me life-changing quotes that have nothing to do with baseball.” (Texas first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.)
But what Eovaldi, 33, means to the Rangers, which was evident in not just his ALCS 5–4 win Monday but also how he did it, was borne of a conversation general Chris Young had last September over breakfast with Boston coach, good friend and fellow Princeton alum Will Venable. Young was putting together his free agent shopping list.
