THEN-LOS ANGELES ANGELS starting pitcher Tim Lincecum works against the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game July 19, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — After wearing No. 55 for his entire major league career, Tim Lincecum will switch to 44 with the Texas Rangers in honor of his late older brother.

Sean Lincecum’s funeral was Saturday, which delayed Tim Lincecum from taking the physical needed to finalize his $1 million, one-year contract with the Texas Rangers. The two-time Cy Young Award winner passed the physical Tuesday and said he will wear the number his brother used as an amateur.

“I always looked up to my brother,” Lincecum said. “He was an idol for me. He just had a lot of bad runs with the choices he made in life.”

Texas general manager Jon Daniels said the 33-yearold right-hander will be a reliever and could be the Rangers’ closer as he attempts to pitch in the big leagues for the first time since 2016.

“I think it’s a great opportunity,” Lincecum said. “It was a difficult decision with the Dodgers and the Rangers, but it came down to those two teams. I thought the Rangers would be a better fit. The conversations that we had just made me feel a little bit more warm and fuzzy inside.”

Lincecum is fascinated about becoming a closer.

“I feel like I could do that,” the two-time Cy Young Award winner said. “I’ve done that in the Cape (Cod League) and at the college level. It is going to be, obviously, different, but I feel like I could tap into that mentality.”

Lincecum has made only eight regular season relief appearances and seven in the postseason.