2024 Texas Rangers Opening Day Roster Projection 1.0

Opening Day Bullpen

Closer- Jose Leclerc

Setup- David Robertson, Josh Sborz

Middle Relief- Kirby Yates, Brock Burke, Jonathan Hernandez, Diego Castillo

Long Relief- Cody Bradford

It is a mixture of new and old. Jose Leclerc will continue in the closers role that he earned at the end of the 2023 season. David Robertson will be used in that role if Leclerc is unavailable and Josh Sborz will pitch in the 7th and 8th innings. Those three are a definite upgrade on what Texas had for a majority of the 2023 season in those roles. Yates will be in a role that Will Smith filled in 2023. He will be sometimes used in the late innings, but also used in the middle innings and swing back and forth based on the situation in the game. I do have Diego Castillo making the roster on Opening Day. He is a solid veteran who struggled in 2023, but does have a history of closing and being able to get ground balls. I think Bochy will call upon him in situations that he used Grant Anderson in 2023. Bradford does not win the 5th starter job, but does win a job in the bullpen. Early in the season he could see plenty of work as Texas will take it easy with their starters. Burke and Hernandez are carryovers from 2023, but will need to have much better seasons to hold on to their jobs.