Texas Rangers: What To Expect In Spring Training This Year

Spring Training is just right around the corner. Pitchers and Catchers are to report on the 15th and they will begin workouts that day. Full squad workouts are to begin on the 21st. This year, we can expect serious competition. The Texas Rangers intend on building a roster capable of winning another division and going deep in the playoffs.

At the moment, the first base position is up for grabs, as well as center field. And there are three open slots in the pitching rotation. The Texas Rangers signed several pitchers this off-season. We can expect them to all compete for a spot on the rotation. Jurickson Profar was brought back and he is expected to compete with Ryan Rua for the first base position. Nomar Mazara, Delino DeShields, and several minor-league prospects will compete for the center field spot.

Manager Jeff Banister is giving everyone a chance, which is very good. Banister’s strategy is to observe and test all the talents and see what they can do.  By the end of Spring Training, he’ll have his Opening Day roster complete. This Spring Training could by far be the most interesting and competitive in the Banister era.

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As far as first base goes, I’d say Profar is the favorite to win the job. I expect Mazara to win the center field position, and as far as the open rotation spots go, I expect A.J. Griffin, Andrew Cashner, and Martin Perez to earn the spots.

I expect this Spring Training to be the most competitive for some players. Even though most of the starting positions are already filled, player competing for the backup spots should still work as hard. Making the Opening Day roster is no easy ask. In any case, everyone on the roster needs to be ready. They need to be ready for anything.

The Rangers will spend most of Spring Training without key players. Jonathan Lucroy, Adrian Beltre, Rougned Odor, Nomar Mazara, Martin Perez, Sam Dyson, and Alex Claudio will all be participating in the World Baseball Classic. Yu Darvish, Elvis Andrus, and Shin-Soo Choo all declined to go.

The choice Andrus, Choo, and Darvish made by not participating in the Classic is wise. Especially for Shoo and Darvish. By declining, they’re focusing on a full participation for Spring Training. They want to make sure they’re healthy and ready to go.