Schumaker making a strong early impression on Rangers

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- On Friday, MLB.com Rangers beat reporter Kennedi Landry held an Ask Me Anything on Reddit with Rangers fans at r/TexasRangers. This mailbag features questions and answers from there. The full AMA can be read here.

Questions and responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

Hey Kennedi! Always appreciate these. With Andrew McCutchen's signing and the social media attention he's getting, does it seem like his Minor League deal is more of a holdover until they can put someone on the 60-day IL and make a 40-man roster spot for him? As in, he's basically guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster?

Also, who's your best picture pick? Mine's “Sinners”

“Guaranteed" would be a bit of a stretch, in my opinion. They could've placed Jordan Montgomery on the 60-day IL on Friday if they wanted. I think everybody is being very realistic about the situation at hand, even McCutchen himself. He's 39, he's coming in midway through camp and it's a bit of an uphill battle to get him right to face a tough Phillies staff on Opening Day. Everybody wants him to have some more left in the tank. They all just need to see it.

All that being said, I do think he makes the Opening Day roster. It's hard to overlook a perfect platoon complement to Joc Pederson at the DH spot, as well as all the things another veteran presence in this clubhouse can do. He's obviously not an MVP candidate anymore. But he was also better than a lot of Rangers hitters were in 2025.

So guaranteed? No. But more likely than not? Sure.

If I had a Best Picture vote, I would go “Sinners.” It was my top movie of 2025 by far and also has my pick for Supporting Actor and Actress. But I think Paul Thomas Anderson and “One Battle After Another” are gonna sweep Oscars night. (I would love an OBAA Best Picture win and Ryan Coogler Director win, though).

What is your overall impression of Rangers manager Skip Schumaker so far, and how much difference would you say there is as far as comparing him to the Bruce Bochy era?

Skip has been great. I had heard great things from lots of people in the baseball world about him, and he lives up to the hype. From our side, especially, you can tell he has a respect for the media. And you can tell the players really trust him. Cody Freeman told me last week: "I'm so pumped to play for him. I can't wait. He just brings it. That matches my energy. I love that in a manager. I'm so excited." I think that says all you need to know about a guy.

I think there's a fair difference in personality between Boch and Skip. Not good or bad, but different in the way they went about everything. Obviously, we haven't seen Skip manage a game or a bullpen or a lineup yet. But energy wise, I think you're mostly seeing the difference between a guy that's 70 and one that's 45. Both of those things can be useful at different points. In 2023, Bochy was perfect for that Rangers squad. I think Skip is perfect for this one.

Who is one player that people have been talking about that has also impressed you? And who is someone not many have mentioned that you’ve liked?

I think I would be remiss to not mention Cameron Cauley (Rangers’ No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline), who has had fans and reporters and scouts and also Schumaker raving about him all camp long. Cauley was a third-rounder out of a Houston-area high school in 2021 and has been one of the top defenders and baserunners in the system. But he hasn't quite hit his way onto the 40-man roster and was left off ahead of the Rule 5 Draft. And the kid has absolutely been RAKING all spring. I still think he's got a ways to go to crack the Opening Day roster (he hasn't played above Double-A yet), but I have no doubt he'll be in Arlington soon enough.

I think Aaron Zavala has been fun to watch in his first appearance in big league camp this year as well. He came out of Oregon in the same Draft (when Jack Leiter went in the first round) but he's struggled with some injuries after a successful 2022 season. He's 25 now, so a bit outside of prospect status at this point, but I have enjoyed watching him in camp.

How would you compare the vibes of the clubhouse this year so far in Spring Training compared to last year?

I think the vibes of this team have always been quick, professional and business-like, for better and for worse. And that being said, vibes are good. I think there's just a lot of energy infused into this club this spring. But I also think that's bound to happen when you begin a new era. There's a renewed sense of hope and optimism.

I think last year felt like a team coming off a disappointing season trying to defend their title. Now it just feels like a fresh start.