The Rangers seek to return to the World Series in MLB
The Rangers opened camp this week with the main objective of competing again in the World Series.
Dallas – Los Texas Rangers They opened camp this week with the main objective of competing again for important things, just one year after they were champions of World Series.
Yes, the Rangers try to return to the first planes of the Major Leagues, after living a disappointing 2024 season in which they were unable to defend the first title in their history.
In fact, they could not even reach the playoffs and left a loser brand in the regular 78-84 campaign. After a seasonal break in which they reinforced the squad, a good part of the projections anticipate as favorites in the west division of the American League to the Rangers.
Among the players that Texas hired are Joc Pederson and Jake Burgerwho must have a transcendent role as a designated batter and first base, in a respectively, if the team intends to transcend.
Pederson has been an Amulet Pelotero to the postseason much of his career since he debuted in the elderly with Los Angeles Dodgersbefore continuing for Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Burger played last season for the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins a good part of the time as the first base, after his natural position had been the third pad. But with Texas you will have to replace the golden glove and silver bat in the initial, Nathaniel Lowe.
They also signed pitchers in particular for the Bullpen, which has been the Achilles heel for years, including the championship season. Hoby Milner, Chris Martin, Robert Garcia and Shawn Armstrong They are the main newly arrived arms.
The Rangers also hired veteran Kyle Higashioka to support Jonah Heim’s receiver, who in 2023 was called to the star game but last season he was inconsistent in offense and defense.
“It was a complicated year in all aspects,” he said in the past days president of baseball operations of the Rangers, Chris Young. “We have tried to solve some of the needs during the seasonal break to try to ensure that some of the problems that led us to a bad season do not happen again.”
The Rangers arrived with pending assignments to their spring camp in Surprise, Arizona, a suburb west of the conurbation area of Phoenix, where since Tuesday they reported pitchers and recipients, to which the rest of the position players will be added next Monday.
1- They need their stellar
Players like Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia They have to be on the pitch at the highest level, after living a 2024 in which perhaps the World Series that won charged invoice on them in wear and injuries that were in the game leave.
Other young people such as Josh Jung, Jonah Heim and Evan Carter have to show that their championship season that included a star game was no accident. They have to show that they can be healthy and productive in the vast majority of the 162 regular season games.
2- Health in rotation
Jacob Degrom He arrived healthy at the preseason camp. But the big question is whether the rest of the spring and regular campaign can be maintained. Perhaps it is very much to ask for a baseball player that the injuries have prevented maximum potential, but not the greatest salaries.
The same has to happen with Nathan Eovaldi, who was renewed for three more years and must be the pillar of a rotation in which there are at least two seats for defining between four pitchers – Tyler Mahle, Jon Gray, Cody Bradfor and the rookie Kuma Rocker .
3- Bullpen emerge
The bullpen of the Rangers faces more doubts than certainties in the opening of camp, although it was one of the focus areas during the seasonal break.
His All-Star closure last year, Kirby Yates, and that of the previous season, José Leclerc, are no longer in the team. Nor Dave Roberts, who had to rescue at the end of the rotation in times of emergency.
To the competition for the closing position Jon Gray has been added, who has been a starter for the Rangers the three previous seasons. Chris Martin must also be in the conversation.
And the rest of the Bullpen must try to build it among a dozen pitchers who reported in Arizona, including Shawn Armstrong and Robert García, who on their first day of practices felt discomfort in the arm.
The Rangers open their first exhibition match in the Cactus League on February 21 against their eternal spring rival, the Kansas City Royals, with whom they share complex in Arizona.
