Rangers Inbox: Who's atop lineup, rotation?

This story was excerpted from Kennedi Landry’s Rangers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Three weeks of Spring Training down and Cactus League play is fully underway. I’m out for this weekend while Mark Feinsand and Jack Magruder have you covered from Surprise, Ariz., so I figured I would leave you guys an inbox while you await my return.

Let’s dive in.

Has there been any additional traction on the idea of moving Marcus Semien out of the leadoff spot? If so, what would the plan be to replace him there? -- @KmotheSkip on X

It’s something that’s obviously being discussed. Both president of baseball operations Chris Young and manager Bruce Bochy mentioned the possibility at the end of last season, but it’s worth noting that Semien has hit leadoff in all but 12 games he’s played in during the Bochy era (309 out of 321).

They’re not likely to move him out of the leadoff spot unless another option is undeniably better.

“I think we have a few candidates,” Bochy said of who else could lead off. “[Wyatt] Langford could be a good option. [Evan] Carter can lead off. We can even put a power guy in there, like [Jake] Burger or [Joc] Pederson. There are options. And they’re not bad ones.”

It seems Emiliano Teodo is being groomed to be a late-inning reliever? Is this a valid assumption and what are the chances he breaks camp on the 26-man roster? -- @garykellar3 on X

Teodo -- the Rangers’ No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- is a flame-throwing right-hander who has a fastball in the upper-90s that regularly touches 100+ mph. Because of that, it’s obvious to see why people internally and externally would want to turn him into a reliever. He was even the Arizona Fall League Reliever of the Year in 2023.

That being said, he’s pretty consistently been used as a starter throughout his Minor League career, including 2024, when he posted a 1.98 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) for Double-A Frisco.

He’s on the 40-man roster, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he’s used as relief help at some point this year, but the Rangers have not been shying away from developing him as a starter these last few seasons.

Nathan [Eovaldi] or [Jacob] deGrom opening day starter? -- @ranger_up3052 on X

It’s Jacob deGrom.

I’m willing to listen to the reasoning for Eovaldi, and would likely agree with most of those points because of what he’s meant to the Rangers over the last two seasons and during the World Series run.

But deGrom is still deGrom. The Rangers signed him to a five-year, $185 million deal. He’s the ace. When he’s healthy, he’s the best pitcher in the world. If he’s healthy, he’ll take the mound on Opening Day.

Do they see Jack Leiter as a long reliever or starter at the beginning of the season? -- @BIGDOG31 on X

The Rangers’ No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, Leiter made his big league debut in 2024 with six starts and three relief appearances. Not to hedge anything too much, the club seems to prefer having Leiter compete in the rotation and remain a depth option if he doesn’t break camp with the big league club.

That’s not to say he won’t be an asset in the bullpen if necessary, especially later in the season and in a potential postseason run. But right now, and throughout camp, Leiter is and will be a starting pitcher.

“Jack is a starter,” Young said. “I think he's got a great opportunity to come in and potentially win a job as a starter. If it's not as a starter, there's the chance in the bullpen, but no, we've developed Jack as a starter. He was the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year as a starting pitcher. I think we see him as a starting pitcher. I think we have confidence he can contribute to our team as a starter. We're going to build up his innings. His performance will dictate where he lands.”