As the Rangers await an introductory press conference for new manager Skip Schumaker, news on the coaching staff has begun to trickle out. Catching coach Bobby Wilson announced on his Instagram account that his time with the organization has ended.
Wilson spent the last five seasons as Texas' catching coordinator, handling instruction for the Major League club and coordinating the Minor League catching program.
“Thank you [Rangers] for the past 6 years,” Wilson wrote on Instagram. “The people, the players and the fans are what I’m going to miss the most. I had the privilege of working with the best staff and a Hall of Fame manager [Bruce Bochy] on our way to the first World Series title in club history. It’s time for a new chapter in the story and I can’t wait for the opportunity to chase another title.”
According to Statcast, this is how the Rangers ranked as a team from 2021-25:
- Fielding Run Value: 4th in MLB (+48)
- Catcher Framing Runs: 3rd in MLB (+64)
- Blocks Above Average: 21st in MLB (-15)
- Catcher CS Above Average: 27th in MLB (-20)
Wilson was originally slated to make his coaching debut as the manager with Double-A Frisco in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic ended the Minor League season before it started. He instead ended up coaching at the alternate training site that year, where he worked with organizational catchers who were not on the active roster.
Wilson was seen as a formidable defensive coach, and he helped turn Jonah Heim and Jose Trevino into elite receivers behind the plate. Trevino was traded by the Rangers to the Yankees on April 2, 2022, but he was named an All-Star and won a Gold Glove that season with New York. Heim was an All-Star starter and won a Gold Glove the following season.
However, Heim has regressed both offensively and defensively since his career-best 2023 season.
Things are still unclear for the rest of Texas’ coaching staff, which includes hitting coaches Bret Boone, Justin Viele and Seth Connor, pitching coaches Mike Maddux, Jordan Tiegs and Dave Bush, as well as third-base coach Tony Beasley, first-base coach Corey Ragsdale and bench coach Luis Urueta.
“I commend our coaching staff,” president of baseball operations Chris Young said at the end-of-year presser. “These guys showed up to work every single day and gave a tremendous effort. It's really hard when the team struggles or they don't live up to the expectations. These guys came in and they worked, they cared, they were committed. They did a great job.
“We have a number of coaches whose contracts are expiring. But I will say that everybody is in good standing. Our hope is that a number of them will be back, if not all of them. It's still to be determined.”