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

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.