3 Rangers overreactions as spring training is entering full force

With over two weeks of spring training in the books, it's officially time to address some of the knee-jerk assertions that have been made concerning how the Rangers are rounding into form.

Opening day is just 20 days away, and we're going to look at three overreactions that are circulating around Surprise, and question their validity - for better or worse.

The MacKenzie Gore trade gave the Rangers a top-3 starting rotation

When the Rangers sent a king's ransom to the Washington Nationals in exchange for former all-star MacKenzie Gore, many experts and pundits were projecting that Texas had just locked down one of the best starting rotations in MLB.

Well, not quite, if we are to take what Gore has done in two spring training outings as any indication. He was slotted behind Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi as a no-brainer number three starter.

On Thursday, the hard-throwing lefty was abysmal, allowing seven earned runs in 1.2 innings to a Bobby Witt Jr, Maikel Garcia, and Vinny Pasquantino-less Royals' lineup. Yes, of course, we're weighing that it's just two spring training outings, but as it stands, Jack Leiter looks like the best candidate to fill the third position.

Gore has allowed 9 earned runs in just 6.1 innings. This is a guy with all-world talent, but he is coming off a 5-15, 4.17 ERA season. We need to see something to show that he deserves to be ahead of Leiter moving forward.

The Sebastian Walcott injury means there is no minor league pipeline this season

First, prized farmhand Sebastian Walcott is expected back by mid-season following successful elbow sleeve surgery for a torn UCL. Second, the Rangers have several young players ready to get their cup of coffee should the team be pressed into it.

Seeing players like Cameron Cauley, Aaron Zavala, and veteran Jonah Bride seize the opportunity to step up and make a run at roster spots shows that there are players ready to take the next step and contribute to the big league team.

Cauley and Zavala have been remarkable through 13 games, and both appear poised to take advantage of a call-up should it come their way in 2026.

The Rangers are in a bad spot with their catching platoon

Wrong! Kyle Higashioka and Danny Jansen are going to platoon together very well and contribute to the Rangers' offense at the bottom of the lineup.

Higashioka was unquestionably the team's best catcher last year, hitting .241 with 11 HRs and 47 RBIs in limited duty alongside Jonah Heim. He also has an incredible rapport with deGrom, Eovaldi, and Leiter that will only get better the more he works with them.

Jansen is a solid signing who can provide many of the same defensive pluses that Higgy brings to the table as a backup.