The Texas Rangers began spring training in Surprise, Arizona, this week as pitchers and catchers reported to the club and began practicing.
The first five days of spring training will only include pitchers and catchers, and position players will join the club on February 20, as is the standard in professional baseball.
The Rangers were 68-94 last season and have not had a winning record since 2016, which was also the last time the team made the playoffs.
However, the club made several changes in the offseason and has its eyes set on competing in the American League West this season.
Still, some questions remain as the team begins to prepare for 2023.
Welcome, Bruce Bochy
The Rangers lured three-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy out of retirement to replace Chris Woodward as the club’s manager.
Bochy has 25 big league seasons of experience with the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants. He has managed over 4,000 games and won four National League pennants.
“It became clear he was the ideal individual to lead our club as we continue to build a championship culture here in Arlington,” General Manager Chris Young said after hiring Bochy in October, according to ESPN.
“Their vision and commitment to putting together a club that can contend and win year in and year out is impressive, and I became convinced I wanted to be a part of that,” Bochy told the media when he was hired, reported ESPN.
“If I was going to return to managing, it had to be the right situation. I strongly believe that to be the case with the Rangers, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Big Spenders
In recent years, the Rangers have been one of the top spenders on free agents. This offseason was no exception, as they dished out over $300 million.
Much of that includes investing in an entirely new pitching staff that strengthens the roster and builds depth.
“It’s very exciting,” catcher Jonah Heim told media members at spring training on Wednesday.
“When you put together a staff like C-Y and the front office did, everyone should be excited. These guys are gonna give us a chance to win every day, and that’s all you can really ask for,” said Heim.
“The best teams in baseball have deep pitching staffs, and that’s how you see teams go deep in the playoffs,” added free agent acquisition Jake Odorizzi.
This offseason’s big contract went to former New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom. DeGrom has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in recent seasons but is already dealing with an injury.
He told reporters Thursday that he is fine and that the medical staff is just being cautious.
Texas attempted to upgrade its pitching last offseason by signing Martin Perez, Garrett Richards, and Jordan Lyles. Only Perez remains a Ranger entering this season.
Other Additions
The Rangers also spent big last season, with over $615 million going to free agents, including $500 million combined for infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.
Both infielders had slow starts in 2022, but switched gears in the latter half of the season. Seager earned an All-Star bid and slugged 33 home runs but rarely hit for average from month to month.
Meanwhile, Semien’s bat came alive, with a batting average hovering around .300 in August and September.
The offense was hardly the problem for the Rangers last season, but a better start from their two prized signings for 2022 would be a welcome addition as the team tries to remain competitive.
Defense will be the biggest challenge for the pair, as they combined for 26 errors in 2022, including 17 from Seager (fifth-most in the MLB).
Rookies and Young Players
The Rangers have plenty of talent waiting in the minor leagues with prized pitching prospects Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter and a potential star third baseman in Josh Jung.
Texas has the seventh-best farm system in baseball, according to the Athletic’s Keith Law, who publishes his farm system rankings annually.
Law points at Jung and the pitching prospects the team has collected over the years as reasons to be optimistic for the future.
The question is, how long will these guys remain minor leaguers?
Jung is the closest to becoming a full-time major leaguer after making his debut and hitting five home runs in 26 games last year. He is not guaranteed a roster spot out of spring training, but his minor league numbers suggest he has little to prove at that level.
Many of the pitching prospects, including Rocker and Leiter, were drafted more recently and have more seasoning to do in the minors. However, strong springs could change people’s minds.
Filling the Last Roster Spots
While the Rangers have upgraded the roster across the board, some spots remain to be determined.
One spot that has drawn plenty of attention is left field, and it was brought up again when Bochy met with the media.
Right now, the battle is between Yoshi Tsutsugo, Travis Jankowski, Josh H. Smith, and Bubba Thompson.
Completing the Bullpen
The Rangers’ bullpen is another area that needs to be finalized by the end of spring training.
The Rangers have plenty of pitching depth thanks to some offseason moves, but not everyone can fit in the starting rotation. Plus, if injuries pile up, some bullpen pitchers may have to move into the rotation out of necessity.
“[It’s] best to be open-minded and keep it that way,” Bochy told reporters when asked about the bullpen on Tuesday. “That’s a question I can answer as we get closer to the end of spring training.”
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament involving professional baseball players from countries all over the world. It takes place during spring training every four years and can be helpful, but it also has drawbacks.
The competitive tournament can help players get up to speed and prepare for the season, but it also keeps players away from their MLB teams and spring training.
While the experience can be valuable, it also may clash with the timelines or philosophies of teams and affect how players perform once the season starts.
The Rangers will have two major leaguers and one minor leaguer participating in the World Baseball Classic and will get them back after March 21.
