4 Bold Texas Rangers predictions for 2024

There is just hours left in the year 2023. This will be a year Texas Rangers fans will never forget and likely do not want to see end. It is the year Corey Seager, Adolis Garcia, and Josh Sborz went from regular players to mythical heroes. The stories of the home runs Seager and Garcia hit will be passed down from father to son to grandchildren. The redemption journey for Josh Sborz will be retold for years. While those stories will continue to be told, it is time to look into the future. It is time to make wild predictions about what will happen in 2024. I have four bold predictions about what will happen for the Texas Rangers in 2024.

Bold Prediction #1- Will Venable named Manager-in-waiting

I think everyone assumes Venable is the next guy once Bochy steps down. A bench coach does not turn down managerial interviews like Venable did in October unless there is an understanding he has a managerial job already lined up. I think in spring training this year that Bochy announces that he will step away after the 2025 season. Texas then announces that Will Venable will succeed Bochy as manager starting in 2026.

This does two things it takes away the question of whether or not Texas will extend Bochy's contract off the table throughout the 2024 season. Bruce Bochy is heading into year two of a three-year contract. Texas would not want Bochy to coach on a lame-duck contract. So they would need to extend his contract by the end of the season. Second, it allows Bochy to go out on his terms. He already brought a World Series championship to Texas and added to his collection of rings. There is a chance that the 2025 season will allow him an experience that will be coming later on in our predictions.

Will Venable is an ideal hire for the Texas Rangers. He was thought to be a candidate for the job before Bruce Bochy took the reins. He is a former teammate of Chris Young and has a good working relationship with the GM. He is very knowledgeable about the game and is a former Texas Rangers player. This will allow Texas to keep him in-house and make sure he does not leave for another job say if the Yankees job came open or some other job came calling. This locks Venable in place and gives the Rangers managerial security through the next several seasons.

Bold Prediction #2- Jack Leiter becomes 2024's Cody Bradford

Cody Bradford had a dominant first month for Round Rock in 2023 and turned that into a spot start in May against the Atlanta Braves. That turned into a variety of bullpen roles for Bradford. The highlight of the season for Bradford was his 3 2/3 scoreless innings against the Orioles in game 2 of the ALDS. In 2024 I think Jack Leiter will become the young pitcher who plays a significant role on the pitching staff.

Jack Leiter has been through some stuff in his two-and-a-half years with the Texas Rangers. He did not pitch after being drafted electing to go back to Vanderbilt for fall classes and to train with the coaching staff there. He then made his professional debut with Double-A Frisco in 2022 and mostly struggled in his first season there. He was returned to Frisco in 2023 and was inconsistent throughout the first half. After a horrible outing in July where Leiter could not get out of the first inning Texas shut him down. Leiter was placed on the development list and Texas went to work rebuilding his mechanics.

Leiter finally returned on August 27th back in a Frisco uniform. He pitched three innings, struck out four, walked none, and gave up just a solo home run in his return. The mechanical work was to help him be able to walk fewer batters and pitch in the zone more. Leiter proceeded to make four more starts, three for Frisco and one for Round Rock. In 16 2/3 innings pitched he walked six batters and struck out 25. It was an improvement on what Texas saw before being shut down.

The calendar now turns to 2024 and Leiter will likely begin this season with Round Rock. Similar to Bradford in 2023 if Leiter pitches well out of the gate he could earn an opportunity early in the season. The major league stuff is there for the right-hander. He has high 90's fastball to pair with a good changeup, curveball, and slider. Leiter needs to show that he can command the fastball to both sides of the plate and work on the quality of his secondary pitches. If he can show improvement on that a ticket to the show will be in the works. This video came out on Saturday of him on the mound,

If Leiter is in the pen he likely just needs two to three pitches to work and with his fastball velocity he could work in the middle innings or be a late innings option as well for Bruce Bochy. I think if Leiter pitches well over the first six weeks that could lead to a callup. He could be promoted for a spot start in place of someone getting extended rest. If he pitches well that will lead to more opportunities later in the season, and a return on the number two pick Texas invested in drafting Jack Leiter back in 2021.

Bold Prediction #4- Texas signs Roki Sasaki

Texas is keeping their powder dry this offseason for the most part. They have seen Mitch Garver sign with Seattle, Will Smith with the Kansas City Royals, and Austin Hedges with the Cleveland Guardians. Jordan Montgomery will inevitably sign elsewhere this offseason as well. They will most likely allow Max Scherzer and Andrew Heaney to leave in free agency after this season. Texas will need to sign another starter. The free agent market in 2023-2024 is loaded with pitching. The best pitcher might be someone who is not even in the majors. It is likely to be Roki Sasaki. There are already rumors that he wants to be posted after the NPB season in 2024. He wants to come here sooner rather than wait until he can cash in on a bigger payday.

Sasaki will be turning just 23 years old when he is posted. I think Texas will be willing to pay up to get Sasaki. I don't think the Dodgers will get involved especially with Shohei Ohtani joining the rotation in 2025. Texas will be competing with the Padres, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and maybe the Cubs. In the end, I think Sasaki chooses to sign with the Rangers and begin his major league career in Arlington much like Yu Darvish did back in 2012.

Sasaki is a 6'2 right-handed pitcher who throws straight gas.He finished the 2023 season with a 1.78 ERA and struck out 135 batters and walked 17 in 91 innings pitched. He was sensational. His skill set will likely translate very well to the major league game. I think Texas will be very aggressive in their pursuit as Sasaki will give them a young staff ace that they can build around now and in the future. I think that Sasaki's decision is made in December of 2024. He is a Christmas present that Texas Rangers' fans can look forward to unwrapping next holiday season.

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