Texas Rangers 2025 Spring Training Thread

[saddles]

Bradford was so efficient with his pitches that he needed to go down to the pen after he came out to throw 20 more pitches.

 

[Kelleyman]

I wonder if Leiter is in the verge of surpassing Rocker on our top prospects list.

Sandler thinks he should make the team even if in the pen and stretch him out later if needed

 

[fanman8825]

I have the same positive feeling I had two years ago about this Ranger team this year. Hope the results will be the same.

As long as the team stays relatively healthy I believe we will both see another Ranger deep playoff run

 

[saddles]

Sandler thinks he should make the team even if in the pen and stretch him out later if needed

If Rocker does really well for 2 starts in a row, Sandler will want him in the pen too. I don't know what he is going to do with all the guys they signed. Lol

 

[Kelleyman]

If Rocker does really well for 2 starts in a row, Sandler will want him in the pen too. I don't know what he is going to do with all the guys they signed. Lol

These things usually sort out. He does come across as a fan of Leiter and I am ok with that
He likes to talk trash. He is an eyewitness of what’s going on and I really want to see them play so I can have my own observations

 

[saddles]

Prospects Live has just published their Top 100 MLB Prospects. Here is how they have our prospects ranked along with the others I have posted about before. The averages have also been updated as well.

Prospects Live:
7 Sebastian Walcott
21 Kumar Rocker
47 Alejandro Rosario

Baseball Prospectus
#10 Sebastian Walcott
#41 Kumar Rocker
#72 Alejandro Rosario

Baseball America
No. 20 Kumar Rocker
No. 21 Sebastian Walcott
No. 49 Alejandro Rosario

MLB Pipeline
17 Walcott
44 Rocker
50 Rosario

Keith Law
2 Sebastian Walcott
51 Kumar Rocker
64 Alejandro Rosario

ESPN
19 Sebastian Walcott
35 Kumar Rocker
56 Alejandro Rosario

Average Rankings
13 Sebastian Walcott
35 Kumar Rocker
56 Alejandro Rosario

 

[saddles]

Jim Bowden reports on who is turning heads in spring training. He mentions two Rangers.

TEXAS RANGERS​

Jacob deGrom, RHP​

The Rangers have a wily veteran and young rookie both turning heads this spring. Let’s start with deGrom. I think deGrom will be a Hall of Famer if he can stay healthy over the next few years, which is admittedly a big if. He hasn’t made more than 15 starts in a season since 2019. However, when he was healthy from 2017-19, deGrom won two Cy Young Awards and finished eighth in the voting in the other year. He made 15 starts in 2021 with a 1.08 ERA, 11 starts in 2022 with a 3.08 ERA, and only six starts in 2023 with a 2.67 ERA before undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. He returned in September and logged a 1.69 ERA over three starts (10 2/3 innings).

So far this spring, he’s healthy and looking like the deGrom of old. Now, can he replicate or at least approach his past form and stay off the injured list? He will turn 37 in June. His fastball sits between 97 and 99 mph at its best, and he throws a wipeout slider and a devastating changeup. However, it’s his elite control, command and late movement that set him apart.

Chris Young, president of baseball operations: “Jacob is one of the best pitchers in the world and having him healthy at the top of our rotation sets us up for success.”

Jack Leiter, RHP​

Then there is Leiter, 24, who hasn’t fared well in his first major-league opportunities. However, he’s been given only six starts and three relief appearances, and he has an inflated ERA of 8.83. But don’t pay attention to that. He was the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft out of Vanderbilt and has just taken a little longer to develop. He pitched much better in the minors last year after getting sent back down and ended up with 110 strikeouts in 77 innings at Triple A over 16 starts and one relief appearance. This spring, his fastball velocity is up, his overall pitch movement is better, and he has much better deception on his off-speed pitches than he did last year. It’s early but so far he’s turning heads in Rangers camp.

Bruce Bochy, manager: “Leiter is throwing well. His fastball is up to 98 mph and he has a two-seamer now and has come up with a great changeup too.”

 

[saddles]

Evan Grant came out with a new Opening Day roster projection today.

Projection: 1B Jake Burger, 2B Marcus Semien, SS Corey Seager, 3B Josh Jung, INF-OF Josh Smith, DH-1B Joc Pederson

Projection: OF Wyatt Langford, OF Evan Carter, OF Adolis García, OF Leody Taveras, OF Kevin Pillar

Projection: C Jonah Heim, C Kyle Higashioka

Projection: RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP John Gray, RHP Tyler Mahle, LHP Cody Bradford, RHP Jacob deGrom

Projection: RHP Chris Martin, RHP Luke Jackson, RHP Shawn Armstrong, RHP Jacob Webb, LHP Hoby Milner, LHP Robert Garcia, RHP Dane Dunning, RHP Marc Church

 

[Uncle Siggy]

Evan Grant came out with a new Opening Day roster projection today.

Projection: 1B Jake Burger, 2B Marcus Semien, SS Corey Seager, 3B Josh Jung, INF-OF Josh Smith, DH-1B Joc Pederson

Projection: OF Wyatt Langford, OF Evan Carter, OF Adolis García, OF Leody Taveras, OF Kevin Pillar

Projection: C Jonah Heim, C Kyle Higashioka

Projection: RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP John Gray, RHP Tyler Mahle, LHP Cody Bradford, RHP Jacob deGrom

Projection: RHP Chris Martin, RHP Luke Jackson, RHP Shawn Armstrong, RHP Jacob Webb, LHP Hoby Milner, LHP Robert Garcia, RHP Dane Dunning, RHP Marc Church

Sounds pretty good...

 

[saddles]

Jamey Newberg has a glowing report from Spring Training about Dustin Harris. He reports that "Harris significantly increased his bat speed over the winter, and bulked up with 15 extra pounds of good weight "

Harris' exit velocities haven't been very good the last 2 years, but he us showing significant improvement in that area in ST. Maybe he is this year's offensive version of Ragans.

 

[Kelleyman]

Jamey Newberg has a glowing report from Spring Training about Dustin Harris. He reports that "Harris significantly increased his bat speed over the winter, and bulked up with 15 extra pounds of good weight "

Harris' exit velocities haven't been very good the last 2 years, but he us showing significant improvement in that area in ST. Maybe he is this year's offensive version of Ragans.

He had a good game yesterday even defensively

 

[saddles]

He had a good game yesterday even defensively

Yeah, Jamey mentioned his defense as well.

 

[Uncle Siggy]

Jamey Newberg has a glowing report from Spring Training about Dustin Harris. He reports that "Harris significantly increased his bat speed over the winter, and bulked up with 15 extra pounds of good weight "

Harris' exit velocities haven't been very good the last 2 years, but he us showing significant improvement in that area in ST. Maybe he is this year's offensive version of Ragans.

He had a good game yesterday even defensively

Sounds like it may be about time the team moves on from Duran...

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Sounds like it may be about time the team moves on from Duran...

Thing with Duran is he can play IF and OF like Smith and now they are using him some at 1st and has a rocket arm.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

From Texas Rangers PR:

A live radio broadcast of tonight's game will be carried on 105.3 The Fan in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

 

[Uncle Siggy]

Thing with Duran is he can play IF and OF like Smith and now they are using him some at 1st and has a rocket arm.

Between the players they picked up over the off season and his lack of hitting LHed pitching last year (which should be a strong suit) his playing time has almost dried up. I'm guessing he gets optioned if things stay the way they are right now...

 

[Kelleyman]

H

From Texas Rangers PR:

A live radio broadcast of tonight's game will be carried on 105.3 The Fan in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

If ever there was an exhibition game to see it would be this one

 

[Kelleyman]

Between the players they picked up over the off season and his lack of hitting LHed pitching last year (which should be a strong suit) his playing time has almost dried up. I'm guessing he gets optioned if things stay the way they are right now...

I think he does go back to AAA but if he plays well then if García goes down he takes the spot for a bit

 

[Uncle Siggy]

I think he does go back to AAA but if he plays well then if García goes down he takes the spot for a bit

Maybe, if you shift somebody over to RF and I don't really think they have that in mind. That's the reason behind the Pillar pickup he can/has played all 3 positions and it was because he killed LHed pitching last year...