Here's the Rangers' 2024 Opening Day roster
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Much like last season, the Rangers entered Spring Training without question marks at many positions.
Every position player from Game 5 of the World Series is returning except designated hitter Mitch Garver, and the pitching staff, while lacking depth, is stable for the time being with help on the way as veterans return from injury.
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of how the Rangers adjusted to stack up on Opening Day.
Catcher (2): Jonah Heim, Andrew Knizner
Heim is one of the best defensive and framing catchers in the game, and he was rewarded for his efforts with a Gold Glove Award in 2023. He¡¯s produced more than consistently enough to earn his first career All-Star nod last season, and he should be the starter -- to no shock.
Knizner replaced Garver, who signed with the Mariners in free agency in December, and is a consistent enough backstop to give Heim a blow once or twice a week. Manager Bruce Bochy has considered carrying three catchers like the club did for most of last season, but he said that could be one of the final roster decisions this spring.
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First basemen (2): Ezequiel Duran, Jared Walsh
With Nathaniel Lowe -- the 2022 American League Silver Slugger Award winner and ¡®23 Gold Glove Award winner at first base -- starting the season on the injured list with a right oblique strain, the Rangers will have a different first baseman to start the season for the first time since 2020.
It appears Bochy will opt for a platoon with a right-handed batter in Duran and lefty in Walsh. Walsh is a natural first baseman, and Duran has become a utility man over his two seasons in the big leagues, blocked by Marcus Semien at his natural position of second base.
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Second baseman (1): Marcus Semien
Semien played in all 162 regular-season games and 17 postseason games in 2023, and that shouldn¡¯t change going into his third season with Texas. The veteran second baseman will no doubt continue to lead off for the Rangers as a major contributor on both sides of the ball.
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Shortstop (1): Corey Seager
The reigning World Series MVP, Seager is coming off one of his best offensive seasons, despite two separate stints on the injured list limiting him to just 119 games. The star shortstop underwent surgery to repair a left sports hernia prior to the start of camp, but he was ready to take the field before the team left Surprise.
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Third baseman (1): Josh Jung
Before big league camp officially started, Jung was shut down with a left calf strain on Feb. 17. He experienced discomfort while fielding ground balls the day before the full squad reported and got an MRI later that day. Like Seager, he returned to the field before the Rangers left Surprise and he was able to play both sides of the field easily.
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Outfielders (4): Adolis García, Leody Taveras, Evan Carter, Travis Jankowski
The Rangers are in a solid place in the outfield when healthy, with Garc¨ªa and Taveras joined by top prospect and rookie sensation Carter to end the 2023 season. The veteran Jankowski rejoined the club on a one-year deal and figures to add value as a fourth outfielder and pinch-runner throughout the season.
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Designated hitter (1): Wyatt Langford
Designated hitter is the only major hole the Rangers have going into the 2024 season, but general manager Chris Young said he¡¯s content to fill the role in a rotation-style way in order to give everyday players like Seager and Garc¨ªa a rest without fully giving them a day off.
MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 6 overall prospect, Langford has slashed .365/.423/.714 in 21 Cactus League games. The Rangers have no intention for Langford to be a full-time DH, but he¡¯ll no doubt get a number of at-bats there this season.
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Bench/Utility (1): Josh Smith
Anatural shortstop, Smith has become a super-utility player since his debut in 2022. Smith is able to play second, third, short, center and left at an average to above-average level, and filled in for both Josh Jung and Corey Seager at various points last season.
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Starting pitchers (5): Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney, Dane Dunning, Cody Bradford
With Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and the recently-signed Tyler Mahle all delayed until at least the summer with various injuries, the Rangers' rotation is headed at the moment by the veteran Eovaldi, with Gray, Heaney, Dunning and Bradford slotting in behind him. The recently signed Michael Lorenzen will start the season on the injured list in order to build up, but it won¡¯t be long until he returns to the big league mound.
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Relief pitchers (8): Josh Sborz, David Robertson, José Leclerc, Brock Burke, Kirby Yates, Jos¨¦ Ure?a, Jake Latz, Yerry Rodriguez
The Rangers' bullpen was a major source of headaches in 2023, and the club is hoping to turn those fortunes around this season. After going just 30-for-63 (47.6 percent) in save opportunities last year, Texas has added guys like Robertson and Yates to go along with Leclerc and Sborz as potential high-leverage options this season.
Bochy said he would like one, if not two, multi-inning options out of the bullpen. Ure?a made the club as a non-roster invitee, giving the club an option, while second-year pitchers Rodriguez and Latz also made it after impressive springs.
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