Rangers’ spring checklist: 3 keys to a successful 2026 season

After an up-and-down season that left the Texas Rangers sputtering to an 81–81 finish and out of the postseason for a second straight year, several areas demand attention with spring training just over two weeks away.

Some are fundamental to the game itself, while others are psychological, as the Skip Schumaker era begins in Surprise, Arizona, on Feb. 20 against their facility partners, the Kansas City Royals.

3 things the Rangers must improve during spring training

Find ways to score more without the home run ball

The Rangers struggled all season hitting with runners in scoring position and the result was one of the worst offensive seasons in club history.

A large part of the problem was scoring runs without the benefit of a home run, which means the Rangers need to work on being better hitters with runners on base and in scoring position. This could be something as small as advancing runners via ground outs or sac flys.

There is too much emphasis on swinging for the fences and true outcome at-bats rather than being fundamentally sound and scoring more when they have a man on with less than two outs.

Embrace new culture under manager Skip Schumaker

This falls more under the cultural and psychological aspects of what the team needs to do better, starting in spring training.

There were rumors surrounding the last two teams during the Bochy era that players were not unified in the locker room and were splintering into factions. This type of toxic culture must be eliminated as the organization starts fresh with new manager Skip Schumaker.

Putting the team ahead of individual accomplishments is what was at the core of the 2023 World Series championship team and must be the case again from the first pitch of spring training, so the team can then bring that galvanized attitude to Arlington for Opening Day.

The onus will be on both Schumaker to create that type of inclusive environment and then the players to follow suit and rally around him and each other.

Find a legitimate closer

The Rangers simply can't have the same patchwork approach to closing out ballgames in 2026 as they did last season. There should be an immediate focus on finding out who will be the closer when pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 10.

Shawn Armstrong came on strong at the end of 2025 to close games, but before that, it was a virtual crapshoot in the bottom of the ninth with a revolving door of guys like Luke Jackson, Robert Garcia, Chris Martin and others.

Chris Young and the front office decided against signing a proven closer for some reason, so the job is still available. This season, they need to immediately have an open tryout for the role so Rangers' fans can breathe a little easier when the top rotation in baseball hands off leads in the late innings.