2024 Texas Rangers Opening Day Roster Projection 1.0

Happy President's Day to everyone. Pitchers and catchers reported on Valentines Day and now the full squad reports on Presidents Day. It has been a eventful first week of camp. Josh Jung reported, took part in a workout, and then injured his calf. He had an MRI done and it was reported he will miss at least two to three weeks and will be reexamined at that time. The entire left side of the Texas Rangers infield will be out of action as Corey Seager is still recovering from his hernia surgery. They should both be ready for Opening Day. Jack Leiter announced he has graduated from Vanderbilt. Wyatt Langford reported to camp and will be given an opportunity to make the team. Justin Foscue is taking ground balls at first base. Marcus Semien is ready to play in all 162 games and hopefully more games again. The full squad should be in attendance today in Surprise, Arizona and spring training games begin later this week. Lets project of all the players in camp who will be on the Opening Day roster when the Texas Rangers take on the Chicago Cubs in Arlington.

Opening Day infield

Catcher: Jonah Heim

Heim comes to camp healthy and ready to take that next step in his career. He is ready to prove the doubters wrong. In a MLB Network catchers ranking in January Heim was not listed as a top 10 catcher, despite starting the All-Star game in 2023, winning a Gold Glove at catcher, and finishing as the 2nd-team All-MLB at catcher. Heim has already accomplished so much, and yet he still has something to prove. He will be starting at catcher on Opening Day.

First Base: Nathaniel Lowe

Lowe won the Silver Slugger in 2022 and a Gold Glove award in 2023. In 2024 he will be trying to combine solid offensive production with continued stellar defense at first base. If he can do that he will become the best first baseman in the AL if not all of Major League Baseball. This will be season number four starting at first base for the Texas Rangers. He has seen Texas go from 100 losses to World Series champion in just a short time. He will manning the corner position on Opening Day.

Second Base: Marcus Semien

The Texas Rangers ironman reported to camp over the weekend. He enters this season as a World Series champion for the first time. His ninth-inning two-run home run in game five of the World Series put the exclamation point on the championship. Semien finished third in MVP voting in 2023, started the All-Star game, and won the Silver Slugger award. It was a great second season in Arlington for Semien. He will be starting at second base on Opening Day and hopefully every day after that in 2024.

Shortstop: Corey Seager

Seager is continuing to recover from his sports hernia surgery that he underwent back in January. He should hopefully be on the field in games by the back half of the spring training schedule. If that does happen then Seager will be able to suit up on Opening Day. The MVP runner-up in 2023 has now become one of the favorites for the award now that Shohei Ohtani has moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League. If Seager can stay relatively healthy and put together a strong season the MVP award will be within reach for the superstar shortstop and reigning World Series MVP. He will be the starting shortstop on Opening Day.

Third Base: Josh Jung

This was looking like a slam dunk until his calf injury in his first workout. They said he should just miss two to three weeks and if that is the case then he will be on the field in games around the same time Seager is returning to game action. Calf injuries can be pretty tricky and Texas has to hope there is not setbacks in his recovery. If so then it is a tossup between Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith, or Justin Foscue over who will play third on Opening Day. At this point I would expect Jung to recover and to run out there on Opening Day.