The Texas Rangers released their break camp rosters on March 31, showing where each prospect will start the 2022 season.
After a delayed season due to a Major League Baseball (MLB) lockout, MLB’s Opening Day is Friday, April 8. The Rangers will face the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game stand north of the border before hosting their home opener on Monday, April 11, when the Colorado Rockies come to Arlington.
On March 31, Rangers Manager Chris Woodward said Jon Gray would be the opening day starter when Texas faces Toronto.
The 30-year-old right-handed hurler – originally from Shawnee, Oklahoma, and selected number three in the first round of the MLB draft by the Rockies in 2013 – has made two opening day starts in his seven-year career. Gray has a career record of 53-49 (all with Colorado) with an ERA of 4.59.
“We knew when we signed him that he was going to be our No. 1,” Woodward said. “I knew that. He knew that. He’s good. He’s an elite pitcher. He’s had a ton of success in the big leagues. And I just think with where he’s at right now, there’s another level to him, and he believes that. He can’t wait to get to that.”
This spring, Gray has only pitched in one major league game, giving up one run on four hits over two innings against the Athletics.
“I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t done it in a couple years now, but just the amount of confidence this team has in me, it’s a good spot to be in,” Gray said. “I know we’re kind of young as a staff, but it’s really cool to get that spot and really start to set the tone… It’s really cool that they want to put me up there, game one, and know that you know that we really want to win that one.”
The Rangers also announced top pitching prospect Jack Leiter would make his professional debut at Double-A Frisco. Leiter, the son of former major-league pitcher Al Leiter, arrived at camp this spring ready to compete and pleased Rangers executives throughout his stay in Arizona. He even pitched 1 2/3 innings in the Rangers’ first Cactus League game, giving him a taste of the big leagues.
From the start of minor league camp, GM Chris Young made it evident that Leiter’s performance in Arizona would determine where he starts the season.
“Our assumption is that Jack is relatively polished and ready to be challenged,” Young said.
Kennedi Landry, a beat writer for the MLB, listed his position predictions for the opening day roster: Mitch Garver as catcher; Nathaniel Lowe at first; Marcus Semien at second; Andy Ibáñez at third; Corey Seager at shortstop; and Kole Calhoun, who will also see time at DH, with Adolis Garcia and Brad Miller in the outfield.
Top-hitting prospect Josh Jung is out after shoulder surgery.
Miller leads the team in spring training home runs, having belted three thus far, and is tied for the team lead in RBIs with McCarthy, Calhoun, and Seager, as each has six runs knocked into their credit.
With Gray already penciled in as the day one starter, the rest of the five-person rotation will likely be Martin Perez, Taylor Hearn, Dane Dunning, and Spencer Howard, who will potentially play in the Rangers’ home-opening start against Colorado.
Tickets for the 2021 Rangers season can be purchased here.
Texas comes into the 2022 season following a woeful 2021 season in which they posted a 60-102 record, good for last place in the American League West, thirty-five games behind first-place Houston, and the third-worst record in all of baseball. The 102 losses in the previous season are the first time since 1973 the Rangers posted triple-digits in the loss column after moving from Washington (formerly the Senators) to Arlington in 1972.
