Texas Rangers News

Marc Church  • RP  •  Rangers

Marc Church Makes Opening Day Roster

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Marc Church has made the Opening Day roster, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Church made one appearance with the Rangers last season, but he has put together decent numbers in the minor leagues. Bochy mentioned that Church could be a possible closing option for the Rangers this season. The Rangers are unlikely going to hand the 23-year-old the closer role right out of the gate. That means, Chris Martin and Luke Jackson figure to get a majority of the saves to start the season, but Church should work in a high-leverage role. He's a name to keep in mind in case the other options don't work out in the ninth inning role.
2 hours ago   
Corey Seager  • SS  •  Rangers

Corey Seager Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (calf) is out of Tuesday's lineup for an exhibition game against the Kansas City Royals for a second straight day, but general manager Chris Young feels confident that he will be ready to go for Opening Day on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox. Manager Bruce Bochy said on Monday that Seager wasn't dealing with a serious calf injury, so it's clear the Rangers are just being cautious with their starting shortstop with Opening Day just several days away. The 30-year-old former first-rounder hit .250 (10-for-40) with three doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI and nine runs scored in 18 Cactus League games and got plenty of at-bats this spring to be ready to roll for the regular season. Injuries remain a concern for the two-time World Series MVP, but Seager has managed to hit 30-plus homers each of the last three years and should still be considered a top-10 fantasy shortstop.
7 hours ago   
Josh Jung  • 3B  •  Rangers

Josh Jung Scratched On Tuesday

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (neck) was scratched from the team's exhibition game on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals as a precaution due to neck stiffness. Jung was pulled early from Monday's contest against the Royals, but general manager Chris Young feels confident that he will be ready for Opening Day on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox. Ezequiel Duran took over for Jung at third base and will hit ninth in the batting order on Tuesday. It's something to watch for the 27-year-old oft-injured third baseman, but for now, fantasy managers have no reason to panic about his healthy to begin the regular season. However, if Jung's neck injury lingers, both Josh Smith and Duran could split playing time at the hot corner for Texas. There's plenty of fantasy upside with Jung for his power, but he's proving to be very injury-prone early in his MLB career.
7 hours ago   
Kevin Pillar  • CF  •  Rangers

Kevin Pillar Makes Opening Day Roster

Texas Rangers outfielder Kevin Pillar will make the Opening Day roster. Shawn McFarland of the Dallas News reported that Pillar will likely be deployed as the designated hitter or in center field against left-handed pitching. Pillar inked a minor-league deal with the Rangers during the offseason. Last season, the 36-year-old spent time in the majors (100 games) split between the White Sox and Angels. Across this stint, he posted a .229/.291/.377 slash line with 16 doubles and eight long balls. While he posted a modest .173/.250/.292 line against right-handed pitching, Pillar performed quite well against southpaws, posting a strong .310/.352/.500 slash line. Fantasy managers in deeper AL-only formats should consider targeting Pillar when he faces southpaws, as he could carry value as a streaming option.
8 hours ago   
Kumar Rocker  • SP  •  Rangers

Kumar Rocker Opening Season In Rotation

Texas Rangers starting pitching prospect Kumar Rocker has earned a role in the starting rotation. Rocker was competing for a spot during camp. During spring training, the Vanderbilt product tossed nine innings and held a 13.00 ERA with a 2.33 WHIP. However, over his final start, Rocker turned the corner as he tallied eight punchouts across four 2/3 innings of two-run ball. Fellow top prospect Jack Leiter also earned a spot in the rotation with Cody Bradford (elbow) and Jon Gray (wrist) sidelined. Rocker made his brief MLB debut last summer and held a 3.86 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP across 11 2/3 innings. In the minor leagues, Rocker posted a strong 1.96 ERA and a stellar 0.79 WHIP across 36 2/3 cumulative innings across Double and Triple-A. Given his prospect pedigree and success in the upper levels of the minor leagues, Rocker is worth adding in all 12-team formats as a high-upside starting pitcher.
9 hours ago   
Jack Leiter  • SP  •  Rangers

Jack Leiter Earns Starting Role

Texas Rangers starting pitching prospect Jack Leiter has earned a spot in the starting rotation. The former No. 2 overall selection made his MLB debut last summer and will look to take the next step in his development. During his first 35 2/3 innings in the majors, the Vanderbilt product posted a high 8.83 ERA with a 1.71 WHIP. He tallied 31 punchouts and allowed walks at a high 9.8 percent rate. During spring training, Leiter tossed 20 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.48 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He tallied 21 punchouts and served up 10 free passes. While he has struggled to command his pitches, the right-hander has flashed elite strikeout upside. Last season, Leiter tallied an impressive 110 punchouts across just 77 innings of work at the Triple-A level. He is worth taking a flyer on in deeper formats due to his elite swing-and-miss potential.
9 hours ago   
Dane Dunning  • SP  •  Rangers

Dane Dunning Outrighted To Triple-A

Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers placed Dunning on waivers earlier this week and will begin his 2025 campaign at the top level of the minor leagues. Dunning was competing for a spot in the starting rotation but ultimately fell short. During spring training, the 30-year-old struggled as he served up a high 8.18 ERA with a 1.91 WHIP across 11 innings of work. He held a 4:14 BB:K and allowed four long balls. Last season, Dunning appeared in 26 games (15 starts) and logged 95 innings to the tune of a 5.31 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP. He tallied 91 punchouts and allowed walks at a high 9.5 percent rate. In addition, Dunning also generated a high 45.8 percent hard-hit rate. With Dunning starting the season in Triple-A, Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter will have a spot in the rotation.
9 hours ago   
Evan Carter  • LF  •  Rangers

Evan Carter Optioned To Triple-A

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter did not make the Opening Day roster and is being optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. Carter made his MLB debut during the 2023 campaign and played a critical role during their World Series run. Across his first 23 games in the majors, Carter posted a strong .306/.413/.645 slash line with four doubles and five home runs. During the postseason, he continued to produce as he held a strong .300/.417/.500 line. However, in 2024, Carter dealt with a lingering back injury, which eventually cut his season short after just 45 contests. During spring training, Carter struggled as he posted an underwhelming .154/.214/.205 slash line. Fantasy managers should expect Carter to compete for an early return to the big leagues, especially if he finds his footing at the top level of the minor leagues. In Texas, Leody Taveras will likely see most of the opportunities in center field to start the season.
9 hours ago   
Corey Seager  • SS  •  Rangers

Corey Seager Still Out On Tuesday

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (calf) is out of the team's exhibition contest on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals for the second straight day after he was held out on Monday due to a minor calf injury. Manager Bruce Bochy said on Monday that he's not worried, but this does raise some concern about Seager's status for Opening Day on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox. Josh Smith is starting at shortstop and batting seventh against KC on Tuesday. Seager, a 30-year-old former first-rounder, has always had injury concerns, dating back to his days with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has played over 150 games with the Rangers once in his three seasons with the team, but it hasn't kept him from reaching the 30-homer mark in each of the last three years. The five-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time World Series MVP is still a top-10 fantasy shortstop.
10 hours ago   
Josh Jung  • 3B  •  Rangers

Josh Jung Returns To Tuesday's Lineup Against Royals

As expected, Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (neck) is back at third base and is batting fifth in Tuesday's exhibition contest against the Kansas City Royals. As a precautionary measure, Jung was pulled early from Monday's game against the Royals due to neck stiffness, but the fact that he's back in action a day later means he will be fine for Opening Day on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox. The 27-year-old former eighth overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech is a big injury risk for fantasy managers, but he has plenty of power upside in a good lineup after he hit 23 homers and drove in 70 in just 122 games in his first full major-league season in 2023. Jung struggled at the plate in Cactus League action, going 10-for-49 (.204) with a homer, two doubles, an RBI and 16 strikeouts in 20 games played.
10 hours ago   
Luke Jackson  • RP  •  Rangers

Luke Jackson Earns The Save On Tuesday

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Luke Jackson closed out the team's 6-3 victory over the Royals on Tuesday night, earning a save with a perfect ninth inning. Chris Martin pitched the eighth inning in what could be a preview of how the Rangers will line up their bullpen to start the season. Both pitchers were very effective, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts each. Jackson allowed just two hits and one walk in six scoreless innings this spring, picking up nine strikeouts and making a strong case to be the team's closer to start the season.
11 hours ago   
Luke Jackson  • RP  •  Rangers

Luke Jackson In The Mix For Saves

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Luke Jackson could be in the mix for saves in 2025. Manager Bruce Bochy said things will be "pretty close" to how he used the bullpen in Monday's 6-3 win over the Royals, where Robert Garcia pitched the 7th, Chris Martin pitched the 8th, and Jackson picked up the save in the 9th. This news comes as a surprise, with the job being primarily considered as a two-way competition between Garcia and Martin up until this point. Bochy did clarify that the roles aren't defined, so it's still likely that all three see save chances at some point. Jackson split 2024 between the Giants and Braves, where he posted a 5.09 ERA and 1.47 WHIP with 59 strikeouts and 26 walks in 53 innings. It's unlikely he will become a dominant reliever in 2025, but this bullpen situation is definitely one to monitor.
21 hours ago   
Josh Jung  • 3B  •  Rangers

Josh Jung Leaves Game With Neck Stiffness

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung left Monday's game after two at-bats due to neck stiffness. He wanted to stay in the game according to manager Bruce Bochy, so the injury isn't expected to be serious. Jung will be looking to take a step forward in 2025 after slashing .264/.298/.421 with seven home runs, 16 RBI, and 19 runs in 46 games in a 2024 season that was derailed by a broken wrist. He showed immense power potential in 2023 when he launched 23 homers in 122 games while posting a .482 xSLG and 47.4% hard-hit rate. Still only 27 years old, he makes for a solid upside play late in fantasy drafts.
22 hours ago   
Corey Seager  • SS  •  Rangers

Corey Seager Takes Day Off Due To Sore Calf

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (calf) is taking the day off on Monday's exhibition game against the Kansas City Royals due to a sore calf that manager Bruce Bochy called nothing serious. The Rangers have another exhibition contest against the Royals on Tuesday, so if Seager isn't back in there by then, fantasy managers may want to wonder whether the 30-year-old veteran will be ready to go for Opening Day on Thursday versus the Boston Red Sox. It sounds as though Seager's calf injury isn't serious enough to keep him out to start the regular season. The five-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time World Series MVP hit .250 (10-for-40) with three homers, three doubles, 11 RBI and nine runs scored in 18 Cactus League games during spring training. There are plenty of injury concerns with Seager, but he still managed to club 30 long balls in 123 games for Texas last year.
Yesterday   
Dane Dunning  • SP  •  Rangers

Dane Dunning Placed On Waivers

The Texas Rangers placed pitcher Dane Dunning on outright waivers on Sunday. If the 30-year-old is not claimed by another team, Texas can outright the former first-round draft pick to the minors. The righty pitched well for the 2023 World Series champion squad, posting a 3.70 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 172 2/3 innings pitched, but that season looks more like an outlier compared to career marks. Last season, Dunning worked as both a starter and reliever, registering a 5.31 ERA (4.31 SIERA), 1.44 WHIP, and a 12.1 percent K-BB% over 95 IP. If he is picked up by another team, he has the potential to be a solid innings-eater, however, the ERA, WHIP, and sub-9.00 K/9 don't make him very appealing for fantasy.
2 days ago   
Leody Taveras  • CF  •  Rangers  |  Evan Carter  • LF  •  Rangers

Evan Carter, Leody Taveras Could Platoon In Center Field

Texas Rangers outfielders Evan Carter and Leody Taveras could start the year in a platoon in center field, according to MLB.com's Kennedi Landry. Neither player has hit lefties well, but Carter has really struggled, hitting .081/.150/.081 with three total hits against lefties in the big leagues since debuting late in the 2023 season. He has five strikeouts in seven at-bats against southpaws in spring training. The 22-year-old just hasn't had much exposure to high-leverage lefties in the big leagues in only 68 regular-season games played. He also played just 45 games in 2024 due to a back injury that the team is still managing. Carter expects to improve against lefties in time, but the Rangers might just continue avoid having him face them. Between recurring back issues and the fact that he won't play regularly, Carter's fantasy upside is limited in 2025.
4 days ago   
Kumar Rocker  • SP  •  Rangers

Kumar Rocker Bounces Back With Eight-Strikeout Performance

Texas Rangers pitching prospect Kumar Rocker tossed 4 2/3 innings on Thursday, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight in the 7-4 Cactus League loss to the Rockies. It was a step in the right direction after the 6-foot-5 hurler had given up 11 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched while striking out just four batters over his first three starts. The former first-rounder threw 47 of 76 pitches for strikes and also recorded 12 whiffs and averaged 97.2 mph on his four-seamer. The final rotation spot is a competition between Rocker and Jack Leiter. While Thursday's start helps Rocker's case, Leiter likely has the inside track with a better performance this spring and more MLB experience. Both are worthy of a roster spot in deeper fantasy leagues when they are in the rotation, but that might be later this year for one of them.
4 days ago   
Jon Gray  • SP  •  Rangers

Rangers Place Jon Gray On 60-Day Injured List

The Texas Rangers placed right-hander Jon Gray (forearm) on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday with a right-forearm fracture to make room on the 40-man roster for left-hander Patrick Corbin, who was signed to a one-year major-league contract. Gray took a line drive off his forearm/wrist in his last Cactus League start against the San Diego Padres and unfortunately suffered a fractured arm, which will now keep him out until at least late May. With left-hander Cody Bradford (elbow) also set to open the 2025 regular season on the injured list, it's looking more and more like both right-handed pitching prospects Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker will open the year in Texas' Opening Day starting rotation. When Gray recovers from his forearm fracture and is eligible to rejoin the team, there's a chance he's moved to a relief role, depending on the health and performance of the rest of the rotation.
7 days ago   
Patrick Corbin  • SP  •  Rangers

Patrick Corbin Joining Rangers

The Texas Rangers have signed starting pitcher Patrick Corbin to a one-year deal on Tuesday. The veteran southpaw was brought in with Jon Gray (wrist) and Cody Bradford (elbow) likely both beginning the season on the injured list. The plan is for Corbin to join the organization in Arizona for the final few days of camp. At this point, Corbin isn't much more than an innings-eater pitcher, which is something the Rangers could use right now. The left-hander posted a 5.62 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and 139/54 K/BB ratio across 32 starts with the Washington Nationals last season. Corbin hasn't been a viable fantasy option in years and that's unlikely to change in Arlington.
7 days ago   
Evan Carter  • LF  •  Rangers

Evan Carter Trending Toward Making Opening Day Roster

The Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant writes that outfielder Evan Grant's stock is trending up of late as it pertains to potentially making the Opening Day roster out of camp. Grant adds that Carter has eased concerns about tentativeness in his swing during minor-league and Cactus League games this spring. While Leody Taveras may be winning the competition for the center field job, it appears that the 22-year-old should make the Opening Day roster as outfield depth for Texas to begin the year. Carter debuted in the majors late in the 2023 season and looked like a seasoned veteran on the way to helping the Ranger win the World Series that fall. However, the former second-rounder was limited to 45 games in 2024 and eventually needed surgery for a stress reaction in his lower back. He's now merely attempting to bounce back, and because of his struggles against lefties, a best-case scenario (at least early on) is a platoon role for the young outfielder.
7 days ago   
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