Top prospect Taveras makes list
DALLAS—The long awaited Major League Baseball season is finally here, games are being played, and the rosters are set. Teams were able to open the season with a 30- man roster this year, rather than the usual 25-man opening day roster, and the Texas Rangers were able to add some young talent who ordinarily would have opened the season in the minor leagues.
STARTING PITCHERS
• Lance Lynn
• Mike Minor
• Corey Kluber
• Kyle Gibson
• Jordan Lyles
The rotation was one of the few spots this season in which the Rangers didn’t have any position battles going on in spring training/ summer camp. This fiveman rotation is one of the most seasoned in the league with a combined 927 major league starts between the five.
The Rangers’ success this year will largely rely on the strength of their starting pitching, which has the chance to be one of the best rotations in the league.
RELIEF PITCHERS
• Kolby Allard
• Jesse Chavez
• Luke Farrell
• Ian Gibaut
• Nick Goody
• Jonathan Hernandez
• Jose Leclerc
• Joe Palumbo
• Edinson Volquez
The biggest question about the opening day bullpen is why was 25-year-old lefty Taylor Hearn left off the roster? The Royse City native doesn’t have major league experience but has a lot of upside and could bring both a left-handed arm that the Rangers desperately need and the ability to eat innings.
The only sure thing in the Texas bullpen at the moment is that Jose Leclerc will be the closer, and unless the Rangers get production from guys who haven’t shown much in the past, the bullpen will be their biggest weakness in 2020.
CATCHERS
• Robinson Chirinos
• Jeff Mathis
• Jose Trevino
The Texas Rangers were able to bring back catcher Robinson Chirinos this offseason, after watching him have a great season with the Houston Astros in 2019. Chirinos provides power from the catcher position which is somewhat of a rarity in the majors, and will be the everyday starter for Texas as long as he’s healthy. Jeff Mathis and Jose Trevino will be fighting for the backup role. Mathis brings very little to the table offensively but is great behind the plate. Trevino lacks in major league experience but hit .258 in 120 at bats in 2019.
INFIELDERS
• Elvis Andrus
• Todd Frazier
• Ronald Guzman
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa
• Rougned Odor
The Rangers are in a bit of a unique situation with the infield, outside of Elvis Andrus being the everyday shortstop nothing is for sure. Rougned Odor should be the everyday second baseman, but after a dreadful 2019 offensively, he’s going to have to have an improved season or he could find himself fighting for a spot in the lineup.
One thing Texas does have, however, is flexibility. Todd Frazier, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Joey Gallo, Danny Santana and Nick Solak can all play multiple positions, both in the infield and outfield. This will give the Rangers the ability to find room in the lineup for whoever is providing production offensively.
OUTFIELDERS
• Willie Calhoun
• Shin-Soo Choo
• Joey Gallo
• Scott Heineman
• Rob Refsnyder
• Danny Santana
• Nick Solak
• Leody Taveras
Arguably the biggest news of the Rangers opening day roster is that 21-year old Leody Taveras would be on the roster. Taveras has been in the Rangers organization since 2016 when he was just 17 years old. The young switch-hitting center fielder is the No. 3 ranked prospect in the Rangers organization, according to mlb.com. Taveras likely won’t be a fixture in the Texas lineup this season, but the expanded roster does give him a chance to get his first look at major league pitching.
The Rangers open their season with a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies this weekend, beginning Friday night. Game two of the series will be on Saturday at 3:05 p.m. when Mike Minor will be taking on Jon Gray. Finally, in the series finale Sunday, two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber will face Kyle Freeland. That game will start at 1:35 p.m. Sunday.