Texas Rangers: Who will win the fifth starter's spot this spring?

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Considering how dim the 2021 outlook is for the Texas Rangers, it should be thrilling (and somewhat heartening) that multiple positions are expected to be up for grabs this spring.

Earlier this week, we delved into the potential battles brewing at first base and third base.

Now, it’s pitching time.

The consensus appears to be that the first four rotation spots in Texas will be occupied by newly acquired righties Dane Dunning and Kohei Arihara, followed by veterans Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles.

That leaves one clear opening on the starting staff: the infamous fifth spot.

Of course, the Texas Rangers have not ruled out the possibility of getting creative with their rotation configuration (translation: a potential six-man wrecking crew), so it’s possible we’ll see two players listed in this piece in the rotation by April 1st.

We can’t necessarily anticipate that scenario, however, so we’ll assume that the normal five spots are on the table.

Here are the contestants who will be vying for that precious final starter job in spring training this year.

Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas Rangers’ fifth starter competition: RHP Mike Foltynewicz

Out of all the pitchers on this list, this former All-Star righty is the most experienced, as well as the most decorated.

Mike Foltynewicz comes to the Texas Rangers on a one-year, $2 million deal with heavy incentives.

“Folty” has dealt with numerous injuries over the years, which has derailed his ability to build on his 2018 All-Star form.

He has also dealt with confidence issues, losing faith in his ability to pitch.

The hope is that this bargain bin buy will be able to regain his confidence knowing he has a decent shot to make the Rangers as their fifth starter.

Folty has playoff experience and other big stage appearances, meaning he’s not afraid of pitching under the lights when it’s all going well.

Assuming health and a boost in morale, the 29-year-old right hander is too talented not to stand as the heavy favorite to clinch the final starter’s role on the 2021 Texas Rangers.

Texas Rangers’ fifth starter competition: LHP Hyeon-jong Yang

Perhaps you’re not familiar with one of the newest Rangers, LHP Hyeon-jong Yang.

Quietly a force in his native South Korea, Yang reportedly signed with Texas specifically because of their opportunity to win a rotation spot stateside.

If Yang pitches at all like he did in his home country when he won league MVP there in 2017 (3.44 ERA in 193.1 innings pitched), the Rangers might just have a steal for $1.3 million on a minor league deal.

Of course, there are legitimate concerns about Yang’s stuff translating to MLB hitters, who are more polished than the ones he faced year in and year out as a member of the Kia Tigers.

Yang is also currently embroiled in visa issues, which will delay his arrival to Surprise, AZ.

Nevertheless, when Yang does arrive in camp, he may actually have a pretty good chance (albeit an outsider’s one) at cracking the starting five.

This is primarily because the Rangers lack a quality southpaw in their rotation at the moment.

If Yang puts on a strong spring showing when he arrives, it could entice manager Chris Woodward to nab this lefty to bring some balance to his beleaguered rotation.

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Texas Rangers’ fifth starter competition: Any in-house lefty

This is definitely the least specific slide of the bunch, but it goes to illustrate just how wide-open this competition is for the final rotation spot in Arlington.

Any one of in-house southpaws Wes Benjamin, Kolby Allard or Joe Palumbo stand an outside chance of clinching this final spot.

As we mentioned with Yang, the Rangers lack a credible left-hander in their rotation. Right now, the entire rotation projects to be right-handed.

This isn’t uncommon, but a lack of balance isn’t ideal either (it can swing in the other direction too, as the division rival Mariners allegedly have four lefty starters!)

None of Benjamin, Allard or Palumbo are particularly intriguing at the moment given their recent lack of combined success.

Each one has upside, though, especially Allard, a prized acquisition from Atlanta in 2019 for reliever Chris Martin and Palumbo, the organization’s 10th-best prospect in 2020 who has a great curveball.

Still, despite not expecting to win many games in 2021, the Rangers should at least try to put out their most respectable product possible, and that probably means shying away from either of these three, for now.

Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas Rangers fifth starter competition: RHP Kyle Cody

The last potential candidate to snag a rotation spot in Texas to begin the season would be righty Kyle Cody.

A top-30 prospect in the Rangers’ system, Cody is big and strong and has good stuff, which was fully on display last season in a limited sample size (five starts, 1.59 ERA, 18 strikeouts in 22 innings).

Cody is an intriguing name to watch this spring, as he does have an injury history (Tommy John surgery in 2018). Therefore, his innings will likely be monitored in an attempt to preserve his health.

That reason alone makes the 26-year-old unlikely to seize the final spot in this rotation, at least initially.

The TJS history won’t preclude him from entering the rotation at a later time, though. Cody has proven he can handle starting at the big league level, and we wouldn’t be surprised if he gets back to doing that in short order.

Next. Looking back at the infamous A-Rod trade. dark

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