Texas Rangers 2025 Spring Training Thread

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

From Texas Rangers PR:

Transactions for 3/9:

-RHP Cole Winn, LHPs Jacob Latz and Walter Pennington optioned to Round Rock (AAA)
-RHP Winston Santos optioned to Frisco (AA)
-Reassigned to minor league camp: 1B Blaine Crim, OF Cody Thomas, LHPs Michael Plassmeyer and Robby Ahlstrom, RHP Nolan Hoffman

 

[saddles]

Bochy sounded like Latz, Pennington, and Ahlstrom will be needed this season.

 

[saddles]

I have had some discussion on Twitter lately with Taveras fans. He has some really loyal fans.

Like Odor, Taveras has a really hot streak a couple of times each year, it seems. Also, like Odor, those are usually followed with very prolonged slumps. The guy can make adjustments; he just can't seem to keep from falling back into bad habits. That has been his MO, just like it was Odor's.

It makes me wonder if Adam Morris still thinks Odor is a good hitter.

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland:

Nice first inning for Nathan Eovaldi against the Diamondbacks: 11 pitches, 8 strikes, 2 strikeouts. Fastball sat 95.5 mph.

 

[Kelleyman]

Rangers pitchers getting hit hard and Carter continues to struggle

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland:

He (Langford) just hit a 112.3 mph line out. Thats his third 100+ mph batted ball in the last two days.

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland:

He (Langford) just hit a 112.3 mph line out. Thats his third 100+ mph batted ball in the last two days.

Yeah, I am not worried about Eovaldi or Carter.

 

[DTLUNA]

Yeah, I am not worried about Eovaldi or Carter.

Too early to start worrying.

 

[saddles]

Garcia had a scoreless innings and Church had a great inning. Churxh hit 98.3 and got his two strikeouts on changeups.

 

[saddles]

Dustin Harris has increased hit bat speed by 4 mph.

 

[saddles]

Jamey Newberg had this to say about Brock Porter:

A coach I was watching with said the live BP we were at was the best he’s looked in a good while. Still not the same level of stuff. But command better.

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland:

On today’s episode of “Where is Josh Smith playing?”:​

Smith started in right field Sunday against the Diamondbacks and made a handful of adventurous catches. The first was on a shallow Jose Herrera pop fly in the first inning that required Smith to make a sliding catch on one knee. The second was a slicing Garrett Hampson flyout that Smith dove to catch to finish the fourth inning.

The 27-year-old has played more games in right field (three) than any of the other four positions that he’s played this spring. Adolis García’s injury-induced absence has helped allow that in the last week, but, it’s an effective glimpse into how the Rangers’ super-utility man can and likely will be deployed in the regular season.

“Anywhere on the field you can use him,” Bochy said. “Every day, too, not just for a game.”

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Rangers pitchers getting hit hard and Carter continues to struggle

Yeah, I am not worried about Eovaldi or Carter.

I am concerned with Carter. I am just staying patient and hoping for the best.

 

[saddles]

This is from Baseball America’s latest 2025 MLB mock draft.

12. Rangers — Kayson Cunningham, SS, Johnson HS, San Antonio​

Scout Commentary: “Texas kid for the Texas team. One of the best bats in the draft. The bat has potential to be plus and should get to average power. There is not a lot of projection in the frame, so I don’t see too much of a power increase, but you can’t ignore the ability to hit. High-contact guy who has hit everywhere he’s been. He runs plus underway, and the glove and arm are good enough to stay on the dirt. I think he will probably move to second base where the range will play better. Just limited projection in the frame and not much to dream on, but the bat is what you’re buying.”

The way you describe Cunningham reminds me of Kevin McGonigle, outside of maybe the straight line speed. Of all the players in this class, I think Cunningham is the one I’d feel most confident throwing a plus hit tool on. His swing is so direct and compact and quick. And he’s always performed.

2025 MLB Mock Draft 1.0: Anonymous Scout Analyzes Top 40 Picks

Carlos Collazo gets together with an anonymous big league scout to go 40 players deep in our first full 2025 MLB mock draft.

www.baseballamerica.com

 

[Kelleyman]

I am concerned with Carter. I am just staying patient and hoping for the best.

I am thinking he is extremely rusty after he layoff complicated by his need to figure out how to hit LHP. He is an obvious talent and showed himself clutch on the biggest stage

But he needs to ramp up back to speed and wonder if the remaining ST is enough
So if not ready batwise do you hide him at 9 or let him figure it out at AAA
Every game counts

 

[saddles]

Keith Law had this to say about Luke Stevenson in his 2025 MLB draft notes column, today.

Luke Stevenson flashes prodigious power​

North Carolina catcher Luke Stevenson is a no-doubt first-rounder based on the position he plays and his easy power, at least plus and maybe a 70 grade; where he lands will likely depend on who’s the first team that really believes he’ll be a catcher long term, and a little bit on his performance this year.

Stevenson’s power is silly. He homered twice on Saturday, ambushing first pitches in both instances, with exit velocities over 110 on both. He’d gotten off to a slow start to the season, but going 4 for 4 with two homers tends to help with that, with his batting average jumping 55 points after that one game. He swings very hard and takes a big stride while doing so, which I think leaves him a little vulnerable when pitchers change speeds on him. He does have much higher whiff rates on non-fastballs than on fastballs, so it’s either that or just basic pitch recognition. This is 20-25 homer power even if he’s a marginal hitter, and if he’s a catcher, he’s absolutely a first-round pick.

His defense has gotten mixed reviews from scouts, ranging from some opinions that he’s definitely a catcher to some that think he’s more likely to move because he’s not very agile and has a long release on throws. He does have a plus arm, although I didn’t see any steal attempts off him. He received fine, and apparently is a good pitch framer if you believe that sort of thing will matter for much longer. He is not that athletic behind the dish, and I don’t love how he moves, especially on blocks or pitches well out of the zone. That said, there’s no way I’m moving this bat out from behind the plate unless I absolutely have to.

I think he’s behind Auburn’s Ike Irish in the college catcher rankings in this draft, but not by that much.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I am thinking he is extremely rusty after he layoff complicated by his need to figure out how to hit LHP. He is an obvious talent and showed himself clutch on the biggest stage

But he needs to ramp up back to speed and wonder if the remaining ST is enough
So if not ready batwise do you hide him at 9 or let him figure it out at AAA
Every game counts

That's a good question. If he goes to the minors the many fans would be outraged.
My concerns are can his back hold up and can he hit better than what he did last year in 45 games. What he did for us two years ago was amazing but can he do well over the course of an entire year and we really can't put a stake in the ground and say he can. But let him play at the MLB level and see how it pans out because he can play defense.

 

[Kelleyman]

That's a good question. If he goes to the minors the many fans would be outraged.
My concerns are can his back hold up and can he hit better than what he did last year in 45 games. What he did for us two years ago was amazing but can he do well over the course of an entire year and we really can't put a stake in the ground and say he can. But let him play at the MLB level and see how it pans out because he can play defense.

Not thinking there is an absolute right or wrong answer
For sure EC needs plenty of ABs in ST and plenty against LHP

Leody can be streaky but o am not arguing if a new approach has been learned
Still EC is young and cheaper and has shown alot of promise

Will be interesting how they handle

 

[saddles]

I think these moves would be the most likely to be made should the Rangers need to add someone to the 40-man.

Corniell to the 60-Day IL
Robert cut
Winn cut
Garabito cut

Those last 3 would be moves made to add to the bullpen. They could always trade someone like Armstrong if they like another guy for the pen instead of Armstrong. They could always trade Leody should they add an OF.