Hope and Question Marks Entering Spring Training

The warm sunshine, the fresh cut grass, the sound of the ball hitting the mitt, these are the things we baseball fans all dream of in the dark winter months. Finally, the time is here as spring training has begun in Surprise, Arizona. A new season is approaching. There is something special about the hope of a new season. The hope that your favorite player can have a career season or the hope that your team can grind through 162+ games and end up winning the last game of the year. Hope is never a lone wolf though, with it comes expectations, excitement, and question marks?? Let’s dive into the three of the biggest question marks the Texas Rangers need to answer this spring.

The Bullpen

This is the age-old question the Rangers have had to answer year after year. Over the last 11 seasons the Rangers have had 11 different saves leaders. Roster losses from 2024 include Jose Leclerc, Kirby Yates and David Roberston. All played vital roles last season. Free agent/trade acquisitions include Jesse Chavez, Chris Martin, Jacob Webb, Hoby Milner, Shawn Armstrong, and Robert Garcia. Marc Church will likely increase his workload as Josh Sborz will miss the first two months of the season after shoulder surgery this offseason. Currently, there is no designated closer and really no defined role assignments in the bullpen. There were even whispers of moving Jon Gray into the pen where he really flourished during the 2023 post-season. Those whispers have been quieted in recent days. To quote the great Evan Grant, “The #bullpenisamess.” Maybe it is a mess or maybe it is a puzzle just waiting to be put together by one of the best to ever do it in Bruce Bochy. Hope right?

The Outfield

So much of the outfield and the leadoff spot depend on Evan Carter’s health and his ability to hit left-handed pitchers. If Carter is back to his 2023 form, then it sets up the transition from Taveras to Carter as the every-day center fielder. Using Taveras or Duran against lefties may be an option as well. If Carter is not healthy, does Wyatt Langford take over in center or is Leody the every-day guy? And how do you use the silver slugger, Josh Smith as a super-utility man? Regardless, this will be exciting to watch as the Spring progresses.

Health and Return to Form

All the classic signs of a World Series hangover were there last year, even if no one wanted to admit it. Injuries didn’t help the case as several starters went down for much of the year and pitching arms weren’t available. How do the Rangers overcome the hangover and bounce back this year? Just ask Bruce Bochy. He has a history of having success in every-other year patterns, but can he do it again? Having the team much healthier helps. Can the Rangers get 20-25 starts from DeGrom? Can more rest behind the plate help Jonah Heim put up bigger numbers? Can Josh Jung build from his 2024 early season accomplishments? So many question marks, but the visions of a 2025 Pennant don’t seem so far-fetched. PECOTA projections have the Rangers winning 89 games with a 75% chance of making the playoffs. Hope abounds for Rangers fans in 2025 and all eyes turn to Surprise to see how these questions are answered. Answers that we all hope end with a parade in Arlington.