The Texas Rangers kicked off spring training on Tuesday at the Surprise Recreation Campus, where 42 pitchers and catchers began workouts with calisthenics, throwing drills, and fielding practice. This year’s Texas Rangers spring training arrives with intense questions about the team’s future, new leadership, and how the roster will gel after a disappointing recent stretch.
Five days later, the full squad expanded to 64 players, heightening the stakes for those vying to impress in positions, rotations, and bullpen roles. With competition fierce and uncertainty thick, the Rangers aim to rediscover hunger and regain their status as contenders under new manager Skip Schumaker. The battles unfolding in Surprise will profoundly shape the club’s 2025 campaign.
Establishing a Competitive Mindset Under New Leadership
Rangers executive Chris Young identified mentality as the most vital factor to scrutinize in this spring’s training sessions. Instead of pinpointing individual names or stats, Young emphasized the intangible quality of hunger and collective intensity essential to winning teams. He remarked,
“I want to see hunger. I want to see the intensity of the work, the collective drive. With great teams, day in and day out, it’s palpable.”
Following two years of lackluster performance, Rangers fans recognize the team’s struggle to play with purpose and urgency. Whether it stemmed from lingering effects of the World Series run or roster makeups, there was a noticeable lack of tangible motivation on the field.
Skip Schumaker inherits the critical task of fostering this energized culture. His first full-squad communication on February 15 was pivotal to planting the seeds of a winning environment. As Schumaker stated,
“It’s really important for my staff and myself to get players on board, to set expectations and to figure out who we are. I really believe in culture. That can really move the needle. Establishing that culture from Day 1 is really important. Defining our standards and talking about culture will be discussed from the start.”
The 2025 spring will not only test individual talent but also serve as the foundation for redefining what it means to wear Rangers blue — a culture centered around determination, accountability, and a unified purpose.
The Pitching Rotation Spot Under Intense Scrutiny
Among the most compelling storylines is the contest to fill the final spot in the starting rotation. Jacob Latz emerged last year as a reliever with potential to transition into a starter, drawing comparisons to the successful shift made by C.J. Wilson in the 2009 era. However, the landscape now differs — the Rangers return a strong core boasting baseball’s best ERA, and their pitching depth has improved considerably.
Latz earned this shot after posting a 2.72 ERA in eight starts, including a strong stretch late in the campaign. While his expected ERA was higher at 4.51, his relief work in high-leverage spots was impressive, holding batters to a .563 OPS, ranking in the top 20% among relievers. His ability to pitch multiple innings in relief is a valuable asset, especially with Nathan Eovaldi recovering from sports hernia surgery and other starters entering the season cautiously.
Chris Young highlighted Latz’s contributions, noting,
“One of the bright spots last season was how Jack [Leiter] and Jacob finished the season in Cleveland in what was essentially a playoff atmosphere for the Guardians. Jake really showed me what he can do, but he could also be a back-end leverage arm. And where he starts the year may not be where he ultimately finishes it.”
Competing directly with Latz for rotation roles are Kumar Rocker, the third overall pick in 2022, and hopeful returnee Cody Bradford, who might be ready by May. Rocker must demonstrate improvement in his pitch repertoire, particularly developing an effective offspeed pitch that reduces hard contact, as his prior season’s numbers showed struggles with exit velocity and barrel rates.
Meanwhile, the bullpen faces its own uncertainties after an extensive overhaul. Numerous pitchers such as Tyler Alexander, Alexis Diaz, Jakob Junis, Chris Martin, Cole Winn, and Rule 5 draft selection Carter Baumler are all competing for defined roles. Robert Garcia is temporarily absent while representing Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, complicating bullpen decisions further. Manager Schumaker noted,
“It starts with the rotation, first. That will have a determination on who is in the bullpen and some of the leverage roles. We’ve got some intriguing arms and some have some ninth-inning experience. I feel like we have some options.”
Schumaker brings a reputation for developing bullpen talent, having identified Tanner Scott during his time with Miami before Scott secured a lucrative contract with the Dodgers.
Outfield Position Battles and Center Field Questions
The center field position appears to be one of the most intriguing spot battles this spring, presenting the rare circumstance where the Rangers might have three capable options. Evan Carter, who prefers center and has been viewed as the top choice when healthy, has battled a chronic back condition that limited him last season and created doubts about his consistency against left-handed pitching.
Wyatt Langford has seen nearly as many starts as Carter in center over the past two years and holds a better Defensive Runs Saved rating in that spot. Additionally, veteran Brandon Nimmo brings extensive center field experience from his career, though his range may have diminished with age. This abundance of talent creates a challenge where only one player can occupy center on any given day.
Manager Schumaker acknowledged the difficulty, stating,
“I don’t want to say it’s a battle, but we’ve got to figure out who is going to be in center. We want to create the best, healthiest team we can have for 162 games. I haven’t seen either Evan or Wyatt for 162 in center. We’re going to try to figure out what that looks like.”
Carter’s limited success against left-handed pitchers (.087/.191/.087 slash line against lefties with 68 career plate appearances) raises considerations about platooning. If Carter is rested against lefties, questions arise about whether Langford should fill in at center or remain fixed to one outfield spot to preserve durability. Rangers management previously hesitated to move Langford to center, fearing stress on his larger frame, but Schumaker seems less concerned, emphasizing availability over physical profile.
Chris Young summarized the state of affairs,
“We’ve thought about different ways to optimize our outfield. We love the options we have, but still haven’t landed on a firm answer yet. We’d love to see Evan Carter be our everyday center fielder, play 130 games and hit left-handers. We do think, at some point, his approach is going to allow him to do that. But some of it may have to be worked out in spring.”
The Offensive Struggles and Players Needing Rebound Performances
The Rangers’ offense severely underperformed last year, which became a major concern for the organization. Chris Young reacted by making early coaching changes last season and will closely monitor offensive production this spring.
Two players drawing particular attention are Joc Pederson and Josh Jung, both coming off disappointing campaigns. Pederson endured the worst offensive season of his 12-year career, while Jung regressed significantly in plate discipline and approach, especially in high-leverage counts.
The evaluation process is distinct for each. Pederson, in the second year of a two-year contract, faces the possibility of becoming expendable if struggles persist. However, his past production suggests he will be given chances to rebound. Jung, entering salary arbitration for the first time, could soon be challenged by Cody Freeman for the third base job.
While Jung and Freeman battle for third, second base appears more settled with Josh Smith leading the candidacy despite fading in the latter half of the previous season. Smith’s offensive output over the last two years (.716 OPS in 293 games) exceeds Jung’s (.693 OPS in 177 games), suggesting greater consistency and reliability.
Young reiterated the importance of determination across the roster, particularly for players needing to respond this spring. The desire is for players to bring hunger and engagement, a central theme for the entire 2025 camp.
As the Rangers continue their spring training journey in Surprise, fans will watch these key fights closely. The outcomes not only determine roster composition but signal the team’s trajectory after recent frustrations. Success in cultivating hunger, solidifying rotations and bullpen roles, resolving outfield alignment, and awakening offense may very well dictate whether the Rangers return to contention or embark on a longer rebuild phase going forward.
