Texas Rangers 2025 Spring Training Thread

[saddles]

I think Alejandro Osuna is turning some heads this spring.

 

[Duane1952]

I think Alejandro Osuna is turning some heads this spring.

I think Hauver is too.

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland(who is apparently reading along with us on here):

On the list of guys that’ve turned heads this spring: outfielder Alejandro Osuna.

“He’s going to play in the major leagues. This is a really nice player.”

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland:

Osuna, a 5-foot-9 outfielder and the Rangers’ No. 10 prospect according to Baseball America, has made a full-sized impact in his first trip to major league spring training. He’s played in each of the Rangers’ first six Cactus League games and has collected two hits, two walks, a stolen base and a handful of acrobatic defensive plays in the outfield.

It’s been enough to force his manager — who admittedly “didn’t know a lot about him” prior this spring — to make a declaration Wednesday morning.

“He’s going to play in the major leagues,” Bochy said. “This is a really nice player.”

Bochy said that before the diving catch or the heads-up baserunning in Texas’ 7-4 win over the Guardians. Maybe he’d already seen enough.

 

[saddles]

Jose Urena goes to the Mets on a minor league deal.

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland:

Leody Taveras has only ever played center field in the majors. He'll have played all three outfield positions this spring after today.

"You don’t know what’s going to happen," Bruce Bochy said. "We don’t. I’d like to move him around, not just get locked in to one position."

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland:

Dane Dunning cleaned up some "bad, negative things" he did last season, is down 5% body fat, up 5% muscle weight, tweaked his delivery and is seeing the results.

He shortened his delivery, too, and has put extra emphasis into recovery and rest.

“There was a lot of bad, negative things that I kind of did last year,” Dunning said. “I tried to erase that from history and kind of get myself on the right foot. So far it feels really good.”

It’s looked good, too, for one of the several candidates that’s in competition for a role in what could be a crowded Rangers rotation and bullpen.

“He’s worked hard this offseason,” Bochy said. “He’s lost some weight as you know. He’s gotten himself in really good condition. It’s evident that he’s worked hard and it’s paying off the way he’s throwing the ball. Sometimes you get humbled and it makes you work harder; I think that’s the case with Dane.”

 

[saddles]

Jeff Wilson thinks Robby Ahlstrom has a decent chance to make the club as the 8th relief pitcher.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Bradford and Leiter are scheduled to pitch tomorrow.

 

[scotsman#1948]

Jose Urena goes to the Mets on a minor league deal.

guess it's true the Rangers don't 2 nickels to rub together

 

[WastinSomeTime]

guess it's true the Rangers don't 2 nickels to rub together

Rangers misused him. He started coming out of the pen and pitched well then the following month as a starter. Did well there too. Then after pitching a 1 hitter for 6 innings then back to the pen and went back and forth between the 2. Out of all his relief appearances he only pitched 1 inning twice. They wore the guy out.

 

[saddles]

guess it's true the Rangers don't 2 nickels to rub together

They won't have anything much to spend until they trade a contract. Even that might not help with the $5 million in makeable incentives that Mahle has in his contracts, unless they trade Mahle.

 

[saddles]

I think the Rangers want to see how various guys are performing before they trade away a contract. For example, of young starters Dunning, Leiter and Rocker all do well this spring, and if the other rotation guys stay healthy, then they could consider trading Mahle. If those things don't happen, they could trade Leody and hope they don't have to add very much, contractwise, at the deadline.

 

[DTLUNA]

My question is why they see so much in Leody. Now playing all OF. The guy has never shown why we should keep him in the 40 man.

 

[saddles]

Burger is going to be really good this year.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

Smithy is going to be a stud again this year.
I know the regulars are going to be some combo of Semien, Seager, Langford, Jung, Carter, Burger, Pederson, Garcia and Heim/Higashioka,
but Smith is going to need to be in there filling in wherever he can at least 4-5 times a week. He might be that good.
Position flex-wise he reminds me of Chris Taylor

 

[armadillooutlaw]

Burger is going to be really good this year.

Put me down for 35 HRs, a .275 batting average, an OPS of 850 and a trip to the All Star Game for Burger.
I know I'm a Rangers homer, lol.

 

[saddles]

Smithy is going to be a stud again this year.
I know the regulars are going to be some combo of Semien, Seager, Langford, Jung, Carter, Burger, Pederson, Garcia and Heim/Higashioka,
but Smith is going to need to be in there filling in wherever he can at least 4-5 times a week. He might be that good.
Position flex-wise he reminds me of Chris Taylor

Yeah, they were talking about needing to get Smith into the lineup 5 or more times each week.

I imagine he fills in at 3B and SS for at least 40 games just due to injury downtime for Jung and Seager. Then he will probably plays those positions another 15 to 20 times when they are being rested. Add in the games he fills in at the other 5 positions, and occasionally at DH, he's going to get to play a lot.