2025 Texas Rangers

Spring training starts tomorrow. The line-up and starting rotation appear to be set. There may be a couple of battles for back-up/utility roles. The big key is sorting out the retooled bullpen - someone is going to have to step up and be the closer. I have no clue how they'll solve that. And from all reports, the West is winnable this season - Rangers, Astros, and Mariners appear to be closely matched. Having a reliable closer can tip the scales in our favor.
 
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Early projections for Rocker as a starter and Dunning to the bullpen.

www.dallasnews.com

3 Rangers observations from start of spring training: Kumar Rocker roster talk and more

Chris Young also gave some early indications on what the team’s bullpen might look like coming out of spring training.
www.dallasnews.com

Also talk of bullpen not having defined roles but being matchup oriented

www.dallasnews.com

As Bruce Bochy sorts through bullpen, could Rangers benefit from role-free approach?

With veterans like Chris Martin available, Bochy is considering bringing an idyllic bullpen utopia to life.
www.dallasnews.com
 
Having a healthy de Grom will be a huge factor in the Rangers' AL West chances this year.

www.mlb.com

deGrom 'in a really good place' after first 'pen of camp

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- When Jacob deGrom pitches, all eyes are on him. That includes a simple bullpen session during the opening week of Spring Training. On Saturday, deGrom threw his first bullpen since the start of camp, paired up with new Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka. deGrom said he threw on
www.mlb.com www.mlb.com

Early returns seem promising.
 
FWHORN said:
Having a healthy de Grom will be a huge factor in the Rangers' AL West chances this year.
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True. When he is healthy and pitching to his capability, he is high on the Cy Young list. The Rangers will manage his workload early in the season to keep him healthy and rested - he will be needed later in the season down the stretch.
 
They have invited a bunch of non-roster pitchers to the major league camp. Some of them will be released, others will be offered and assignment to the minors. If they get one or two effective relievers from that bunch, it will be a nice outcome. They're throwing a bunch of mud on the wall and hoping a bit of it will stick.
 
Good stuff today from Landry as we await the spring training opener this Friday

www.mlb.com

Now entrenched, Langford trending toward sophomore surge

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- How does a player avoid the sophomore slump? “I have no idea,” said Rangers second-year outfielder Wyatt Langford. “I guess you just play good. I don't know. “I feel really good going into it. So I'm excited. High expectations are good. Makes you play better. Something to
www.mlb.com www.mlb.com
 
^It will really help the Rangers if Langford produces and Carter can come back from his inhury-plagued season last year. They'll have to manage Carter's innings pretty carefully early in the season.
 
First spring training game yesterday saw Eovaldi, Dunning, and Gerabito all get some innings. Rangers minor leaguers gave up 3 runs late to lose but it was an encouraging start. I am more and more hyped about this starting rotation, so long as it stays healthy, which is a big "so long as" caveat, but if the offense can just get back to its average after a truly down year last year then this team can do some damage. The AL West is going to be a 3-way war and a ton of fun hopefully all summer long.
 
FWHORN said:
Some not great news this morning.

www.lonestarball.com

Langford out a few days with oblique strain

Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford is sidelined for 5-7 days due to a mild oblique strain
www.lonestarball.com www.lonestarball.com
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Bochy didnt seem to be real concerned about Langford and stated the timing is better now than later.

Interesting article in DMN yesterday about Jung being back, healthy, fired up and his role in the clubhouse. Described himself as a bridge between older and younger players. Taking on more of a leadership role and being more vocal.

Keeping things fun, for example:

"We're going to have a lot of fun kicking your ***" (dern profanity blocker)

"That's truly the kind of culture we're trying to create"

Really hoping he stays healthy, plays well and his bat gets hot like the 2023 season.
 
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Game two in Surprise and Mahle was on for two innings as the starter giving up two runs on a two-run HR, then Leiter got two scoreless innings of work to start his spring off right. Webb, Chargois, Robert, Winn, and Festa, all candidates for innings out of the pen each got an inning of work as well with Festa getting tagged for 3 in the ninth and the Rangers lose to SF 6-1.
 
Good to see Leiter start off with solid work. It would be very nice to learn that the Rangers can actually develop pitchers internally instead of buying Free Agents.
 
Bradford got the start today and went two scoreless followed by Houser and Pennington who combined for three more scoreless innings. The Rangers led 5-0 but then their minor league pitchers gave up 6 over the last four innings and the Rangers lost 6-5 as they remain winless this spring. Rocker and DeGrom are still to finish out the starting rotations first appearances, but we will have to wait and see if that is over the next two games or if they bring those two along somewhat easier.
 
They have to let the minor leaguers pitch during Spring Training - (1) to let the major league pitchers build up pitch count slowly and (2) get an idea of the minor league level for those pitchers. W/L record doesn't matter a bunch this early.
 
HornHuskerDad said:
They have to let the minor leaguers pitch during Spring Training - (1) to let the major league pitchers build up pitch count slowly and (2) get an idea of the minor league level for those pitchers. W/L record doesn't matter a bunch this early.
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Yep and that’s why only first couple of innings really mean much here early on. Gray got the start today so still waiting for the spring debut of Rocker and de Grom. Rangers scored 9 in the first and beat the White Sox 11-3. I think everyone knew it was going to be another long year for the south siders but days like today make it absolutely clear that will be the case. That is a huge advantage to the Twins and Guardians in the wild card race.
 
Rocker makes his spring debut today and gets smacked around for four runs on one inning of work. In all, the Rangers run out 12 different pitchers today in a 15 to 6 loss to KC. Maybe two or three pitchers who appeared after Rocker will actually be on the roster come opening day so not much to take away. We did see a a lot of starters or big pieces at 1-8 in the lineup though with Semien, Seager, Carter, Garcia, Jung, Smith and Higashioka in the lineup. Maybe de Grom tomorrow.
 
Rangers beat Cleveland today, 7-4. Three solid innings from Eovaldi - 3 hits, 1 ER, 3K. Dunning threw two scoreless innings - no hits, 3 Ks. Rangers host the Mariners tomorrow.
 
HornHuskerDad said:
Three solid innings from Eovaldi - 3 hits, 1 ER, 3K. Dunning threw two scoreless innings - no hits, 3 Ks. Rangers host the Mariners tomorrow.
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Interesting that no de Grom today. I am not sure if that means anything or is just a signal they want to put as few innings on his arm that are meaningless as possible.
 
Bradford got his second start Friday and both he and Leiter pitched three innings each, combined they gave up just one total run to the Cubs (by Leiter). There was some talk that Bradford might not be in the rotation come opening day given the wealth of potential starters the Rangers had, but his performance last year and the early returns in spring this year make him the solid third or fourth starter (He and Mahle could both be the 3 or the 4).

Meanwhile, Leiter looks more and more like your first long reliever out of the pen and a definite spot starter. The Rangers will have anywhere from 5-10 spot starts just in regular play assuming no injuries, and there will be some injuries, so expect Leiter to get a bunch of starts this year too.

Do we see de Grom for the first time this weekend and how will Rocker bounce back from his tough first spring outing? Should be a fun weekend.
 
Rocker gives up another 4 spot in his one inning of work today. 4 hits, 2 walks and a homer with a single k. That is two rough outings to start his spring. I do think the chances of him being in the starting rotation in April were always low but they have gone down dramatically these first two weeks as he looks more and more like additional time in Round Rock would do him well. Long-term the Rangers will want to bring him along and this could be evidence they have rushed him a bit much and to slow their roll on him just a tad.
 
I am not surprised about Rocker. If Leiter can be effective in the long relief role, that will be a big step for him (although I still am not sold on him).

26 days until baseball time in Texas!
 
FWHORN said:
Long-term the Rangers will want to bring him along and this could be evidence they have rushed him a bit much and to slow their roll on him just a tad.
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FWHORN, I'm inclined to agree with you on Rocker. He has basically one season of pro experience. Some more seasoning in the minors (likely AAA) would be good for him - he definitely needs more refinement before coming to the majors.
 
HornHuskerDad said:
he definitely needs more refinement before coming to the majors.
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I think Skenes is impacting how teams view pitchers in an out-of-proportion way. Skenes is the exception in being able to make the leap almost immediately to MLB starter from college ball, not the rule. Rocker has some pretty wicked stuff and he will be a regular starter someday in Arlington but I don't see that this year particularly when you consider the starters the Rangers do have on the roster ahead of him. A full year in Round Rock and late season call up is the long game and that seems the best choice at least from the early returns in Surprise.

As for Rocker's Vanderbilt teammate, I do see 20-25 appearances for Leiter this year in some role and 100 plus innings.
 
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