One Week Left – Projecting the Texas Rangers 25 Man Roster

Mar 18, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo bats against the Milwaukee Brewers at Maryvale Baseball Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It is a much easier task at this point then it was when I projected it a month ago here, and I was very wrong on the rotation and of course the bull pen to say the least. Now that Tanner Scheppers has officially made the Texas Rangers rotation and Aleix Ogando has not, things have changed a little bit. With one week left until the season starts, here is how I see the Texas Rangers shaping up next Monday when the hit the field for game one.

Starting Fielders:

Shin-Soo Choo – left field.

Elvis Andrus – short stop.

Prince Fielder – first base

Adrian Beltre – third base

Alex Rios – right field

Mitch Moreland – designated hitter

Geovany Soto – catcher

Jurickson Profar – second base

Leonys Martin – center field

This one has not changed since I did my last projections, and I did not think it would. These are the guys  for the Texas Rangers and that is not changing barring injury. Here is my bench, which has also stayed the same except for one addition (Hey, I am pretty good at this so far!).

Bench Players:

Michael Choice – outfield

Adam Rosales – infield

J.P. Arencibia – catcher

Kevin Kouzmanoff – infield

That means the Texas Rangers are only going to carry four outfielders, but with the way Michael Choice has played this spring, he has most assuredly earned a spot on this team and Engel Beltre has not. Kouzmanoff has played his way onto this team as well.

Starting Rotation:

Yu Darvish

Martin Perez

Tanner Scheppers

Joe Saunders

Robbie Ross

This has chanced a whole lot since my post a month ago. This now is the rotation as I see it, with the remembrance that Matt Harrison could be back just two weeks after the season starts, and Colby Lewis could get called up at some point if he pitches good and can go deep into games into the minors. Alexi Ogando pitched his way out of the rotation in spring training, and so did Tommy Hanson. Am I right or wrong? Feel free to give me your top five at any point.

The Bull Pen:

Joakim Soria – closer (made official today)

Alexi Ogando – set up man

Neal Cotts – set up man

Jason Frasor – long man

Shawn Tolleson – middle relief

Aaron Poreda – middle relief

Tommy Hanson – middle relief

This is completely different than what I had in my last projections article, but it is how I see it playing out now. We only have one week left to see if I am right or not, and it will most likely be announced way before next weekend. Let me know what you picks for the 25 man roster are if you would like. As always you can always communicate with us here on the comments section, on Facebook or on Twitter.