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2024 Texas Rangers Opening Day Roster Projection 1.0

The full squad has reported and it is time to project who among this group will break with the team and start the season in Arlington.

By Michael Sanders

Spring Training
Spring Training / Bailey Orr/Texas Rangers/GettyImages
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Opening Day Outfield

LF: Evan Carter

The little savior as he was called last season reported to camp on Saturday. He apparently put in some workout time over the offseason and is now at a solid 192 pounds after playing in the postseason last year at 175. He is now entering his first full season and is the no doubt starter in left field. He was amazing last October and is now hoping to follow that up with a potential Rookie of the Year award campaign. The one thing to watch for this spring training is how he performs against left-handed pitching. That was the one negative about his time in the majors was the lack of production against lefties. If Carter emerges from camp healthy he will be the starter in left field on Opening Day.

CF: Leody Taveras

It may seem like Taveras has roamed center field for several seasons, but in actuality this will be just Taveras' second Opening Day start. He started in 2021 and he will make the start in 2024. Taveras is coming off the best season of his career. He was one of the top defensive center fielders. He set a career-high with 14 home runs in 2023. He came through in several clutch situations in the playoffs. He had the RBI-double in game two of the ALDS against Baltimore, a solo home run off Justin Verlanders in game one of the ALCS, and the walk that set up Corey Seager's game-tying home run in game one of the World Series. He will be out there roaming center field on Opening Day.

RF: Adolis Garcia

The newly-signed right fielder now has financial security for the next two seasons. Now Garcia can just focus on the game he excels at. Garcia is the heartbeat of this team. He plays with a passion that energizes this team. When he is playing well the team plays well. When Texas faced its low point in the ALCS losing game five dramatically he stepped up in game six and hit the grand slam that carried Texas to a game seven. He then followed that up with a game seven for the ages as he was 4-5, two home runs, five RBIs, and three runs scored. He now enters 2024 as one of the more recognizable names in the game and with a solid season he can put his name into the MVP conversation. He will be the starting right fielder for Opening Day.