3 Rangers entering the 2026 regular season on thin ice

Not all roster spots are created equal. Guys like Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, Wyatt Langford, and Nathan Eovald have earned the right to additional latitude if they get off to slow starts.

On the flip side of that coin are the guys who have some question marks heading into the season and will be watched closely.

There are three Ranger players who have used up all the runway they have with the club and need to get off to a good start to see the month of May to remain on the 40-man roster.

3 Rangers on thin ice as we enter the 2026 season

Josh Jung - 3B

Jung is back in the lineup in Surprise after an early injury and has looked good in the handful of at-bats. Still, the inconsistency and long history of IL stints have him on a very short leash to begin the season.

We saw Jung sent down to the minors last year as he struggled mightily to command the strike zone. He was also benched by then-manager Bruce Bochy after being recalled. Much is expected out of the former all-star third baseman, but he spent all of the organization's goodwill and patience in a maddening 2025.

Ezequiel Durán - UTL

It feels like Durán is perpetually on thin ice, being the last man on the bench in a utility role. Last year was his worst as a Ranger, slashing .224/.266/.293 with a big goose egg in the home run column and just 14 RBI in 203 at-bats.

With Josh Smith moving to second base, he got a slight bump up the ladder, but he now must fend off a hard-charging Sam Haggerty at the major league level and an up-and-coming Cam Cauley at Triple-A Round Rock, who has the same skill set as Durán and had a tremendous spring. Durán needs to prove his merit soon if he gets an opportunity early.

Kumar Rocker - SP

Kumar Rocker had a very solid outing on Wednesday against the Royals, going four innings, allowing one run, and fanning six. He really had his good change-up working, getting a lot of swinging strike threes.

But even as manager Skip Schumaker plays his cards close to the vest about the fifth starter spot, Rocker would seem to be the odd man out if Jacob Latz is tabbed to be the man. The big right-hander could potentially land in the bullpen, but his development as a starter has been slow. The Rangers are far from moving on from Rocker, but he may benefit from a regular rotation spot in the minors.