Emotion is back in the Rangers' clubhouse and it's a beautiful sight to see

If you've been around the Rangers the past two seasons it seems that the clubhouse lost every ounce of what made them World Series champions in 2023, the emotion. However, it seems like in just four short games, it's back.

The influx of fresh new life with manager Skip Schumaker at the helm and the arrival of veterans Brandon Nimmo and Andrew McCutchen. Whatever they've brought with them has spread throughout the clubhouse in the best way possible.

Disfunction was a key role in 2025 struggles

The first hint something was wrong, fans honestly had trouble believing it because it came from recently released outfielder Kevin Pillar last May. His comments weren't even bad, he just shed a light on the demeanor behind-the-scenes.

Many passed the comments as just a disgruntled former player after he was released from a team, which later turned out to be his final big league team before his retirement. Turns out, he was right and the cracks started to show as the season progressed.

Reports circulated that after losses, the clubhouse seemed "lifeless" or demoralized" while being caught up in their own failures and disregarding the team's success. That turned into a clubhouse divided due to injuries, lack of energy and hunger in the team's core.

President of Baseball Operations made the tough choice over the winter to get rid of several key members of the Rangers' championship run in Adois Garcia, Jonah Heim and Marcus Semien. Not long after Semien's trade in November, reports surfaced about the potential rift between him and Corey Seager.

While those reports were never publicly addressed by Semien and Seager danced around them when he reported to spring camp, it seemed as reasonable as any to believe as a fan.

What is different with the Rangers this season?

There hasn't been a huge display of emotion coming from the dugout but it's the small things that have stood out to the average fan watching these first four games.

I don't even care if it's good or bad emotion. Whether it's Jack Leiter showing visible frustration after walking a batter on a count he should have struck him out or Andrew McCutchen jokingly teasing Philly fans following a three-run homer to give Texas a 5-0 lead.

But what has stood out to me is something that McCutchen himself has actually implemented on the field. The lasso base hit celebration. A first for Texas since what seems like the antler days in the early 2010s.

It's shown a real change in mood and boost of life. It seems they've finally been given the go-ahead nod to get energized, find the fun back in baseball and play the game.