3 biggest storylines to watch at 2022 Texas Rangers Spring Training

The 2022 season is finally upon us, though thanks to the lockout, we still have some off-season items left to address before the Texas Rangers head up north to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays April 8. But as the Rangers begin their spring slate of games in Arizona as a tune-up to the regular season, there are plenty of in-house storylines to follow as baseball activities ramp up.

Minor leaguers have been in camp for a few weeks now, while their major league counterparts were able to join them after the union and league agreed to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Let’s take a look at three storylines to monitor as Texas Rangers spring training officially kicks off.

What are the 3 biggest storylines of 2022 Texas Rangers spring training?

1. The third base position competition

Trading Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the Twins (who subsequently flipped him to the Yankees) for catcher Mitch Garver left the Rangers without an obvious third base solution in the wake of Josh Jung’s injury. It looks like the team will mostly resort to in-house options for now, and there are plenty of quality ones like Andy Ibanez, Yonny Hernandez, prospects Davis Wendzel and Sherten Apostel, and others.

But Texas also signed veteran Brad Miller to a two-year deal in hopes that he can find his power stroke once again with the Rangers. A versatile presence with lefty pop, Miller figures to factor into the third base conversation somewhat. So does Charlie Culberson, who returns to the Rangers on a minors deal this spring.

Clearly, the Rangers have choices at third base this spring, and can take the next couple of weeks to evaluate them. For now, though, whoever ends up starting Opening Day in Toronto is anyone’s guess.