Fitzpatrick: Working with Molleken has helped Ireland rise up Rangers’ ranks

Martin Academy and Team Saskatchewan alum Thomas Ireland (Regina, Sask.) has pitched in double-A and triple-A in the Texas Rangers’ organization this season. Photo: Frisco RoughRiders

July 31, 2026

By Trevor Fitzpatrick

Canadian Baseball Network

Five years ago, Thomas Ireland (Regina, Sask.) was drafted by the Texas Rangers alongside fellow Canadians and now major leaguers Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) and Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.).

Now, he’s knocking on the door to join them in the big leagues.

This season, Ireland finds himself as the only one of that draft class still with the team that drafted him, playing with their double-A Frisco RoughRiders, but he’s also made his first triple-A Round Rock Express appearances as well.

The left-handed pitcher has thrown to a 6.38 ERA this year, with a 4.93 ERA at triple-A through 34 2/3 innings as he works toward finding the consistency he admits he’s still dialing in.

“I’d say the biggest difference (between minor league levels) is the preparation of the hitters. You’ve got guys that are fighting for their job and others trying to get to the big leagues,” Ireland explained, “You make a mistake to those guys, you get hit pretty far. It kind of made me open my eyes as to how I have to better prepare for each game.”

To continue evolving his game, he worked with longtime friend and mentor Dustin Molleken (Regina, Sask.) in the offseason.

A former National Team member and Detroit Tiger, Molleken worked on making Ireland’s mechanics simple and repeatable during their training – an effort that Ireland says has helped his command and velocity make improvements.

Off the field, Ireland’s support system has been keeping him steady through the grind of the minor leagues.

“My parents obviously don’t get to travel with me as much, but my wife is with me full-time. Without the three of them, I don’t know how far my journey would last,” he said, “It makes it easy having someone you can disconnect from baseball with. I think that’s been crucial to finding myself as a person and player.”

The road ahead could be a long one for Ireland, who faces stiff left-handed competition on the Rangers depth chart.

Their active major league roster alone features five left-handers: Robby Ahlstrom, Tyler Alexander, Marco Gonzales, MacKenzie Gore, and Jacob Latz.

Regardless, pitching is always in demand, so Ireland could pave himself a path to the big leagues and join fellow Canadian Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) down the line.

For now, the minor league grind continues, with the pride of representing Canada helping spur him on:

I asked Ireland, “Is it safe to say there’s a little extra pride in representing Canada on the pro scene?”

He replied without hesitation, “absolutely.”