Rangers to Adjust Pitching Schedule to Allow for Correa’s Religious Beliefs

The Texas Rangers have agreed to let pitcher Edwin Correa rest on his Sabbath, but the team said he may be pressed into service in a pinch.

“I respect his position,” said Ranger Manager Bobby Valentine. “He respects our position. We’re going to do everything we can to make it work.”

The Rangers agreed to try to keep the pitcher off duty from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, and Correa, a Seventh Day Adventist, said he would help out when necessary.

“Saturday is not a major problem, it’s just Friday night,” Valentine said.

“Chances are, there is going to come a Friday night when we’re not able to adjust to it. He understands his value to the team and that there might have to be some sacrifices made. We’ll sacrifice as much as we can. But we’re not going to sacrifice the other 23 guys on the team,” Valentine said.

Correa said he will let Valentine figure out how to plan around Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. All but one of the Rangers’ 26 Friday games are at night. The Rangers play four times on Saturday afternoon.

Of his agreement with Valentine, Correa said: “I think what we discussed is pretty fair.”

Correa said if he has to pitch on his Sabbath, he will donate his day’s pay to charity.

Correa was 3-5 last year with an earned-run average of 7.59 before he suffered a stress fracture of his right shoulder, which forced him onto the disabled list last July 9.