Texas Rangers: First 26-man roster projection of spring training

Texas Rangers roster projection: Relief Pitchers (7)

The other really crowded field within the Texas Rangers’ roster this season will undoubtedly be the bullpen.

With manager Chris Woodward declining to name a closer at the moment, all the roles within the unit are wide open.

Texas also has a weak rotation that will likely need to be supplemented by a bullpen that can close out games, as well as go for extended periods of time in relief.

This position projection reflects those conditions.

RHP Jonathan Hernandez

RHP Jose Leclerc

RHP Brett De Geus

RHP Josh Sborz

RHP Ian Kennedy

LHP Taylor Hearn

LHP Joely Rodriguez

The usual suspects of Hernandez and Leclerc can expect to find themselves pitching in high leverage situations for the Rangers this season, while De Geus is a Rule-5 pick, meaning he’ll need to remain on the roster for the full season.

As for Sborz and Kennedy, the Rangers could use two veteran long men to eat up innings in case the rotation inevitably has nights where they fail to give length. Both Sborz and Kennedy have experience in that role.

Every bullpen also needs its southpaws, and lefties Taylor Hearn and Joely Rodriguez each pitched very well in 2020, meaning they’ve likely secured their spots on this roster once again in 2021.

So there you have it, our first spring training roster projection of 2021!